SWEDEN'S Jens Dantorp shot an impressive 5 under par 66 to win the Pro-Am at Karen Country Club yesterday.

His Pro-Am victory earned him €1,000 ( Sh117,300), which marked an enterprising way to begin his campaign for the Barclays Kenya Open.

Dantorp beat Guillance Cambis by a solitary shot. Cambis carded 4 under par 67 to claim a cash prize of €566 (Sh66,397).Nicholas Rokoine was the highest placed Kenyan in the Pro-Am played at Karen Country Club.

The Muthaiga pro hit a 3 under par 68 score to settle for 5th overall position, a feat that earned him . €275 (Sh32,265). The team of professional Raymond Russell, J.Ngunze emerged the team winners with a nett combined score of 57 (-14) and €350 (Sh41,000) to boot.

Meanwhile, there is also plenty of experience at Karen Country Club, with 2010 Hassan Tropheé II winner Rhys Davies amongst the European Tour winners in the field alongside José-Filipe Lima, Raymond Russell, Carl Suneson, 2008 Kenya Open winner Daniel Vancsik and Matthew Zions.

The 35-year-old Vancsik is hoping memories of that final day will come flooding back this week as he bids to secure a return to the European Tour-- where he has won twice-- via the Challenge Tour.

"It's a very good course. Your tee shots are very important on this course. When I won, the rough was thick so you needed to stay on the fairway, and that was very important," Vancsik said.

Like hosts Kenya who have six off scratch amateurs, other countries have upcoming golfers seeking to make their presence felt at the prestigiuos event

Former amateur starlet Lucas Bjerregaard begins his rookie season on the European Challenge Tour at the Barclays Kenya Open this week and the Dane believes he has what it takes to live up to his billing as one of Europe's top up and coming stars.

Bjerregaard is not the only former amateur star chasing a first professional win at the Barclays Kenya Open this week, with 2007 European Amateur Champion Benjamin Hebert also in the field as well as former US Amateur Championship winners Byeong-hun An and Peter Uihlein.

Bjerregaard begins his rookie season on the European Challenge Tour at the Barclays Kenya Open this week and the Dane believeshe is ready for honours. "It was great to see those guys play well on the Challenge Tour last year and get top 20 and it inspires me to play well and gives me confidence that I can do it as well," Bjerregaard said.