Njoroge Kibugu in action at the Karen Country Club during Round One action of the the Absa Invitational Series, the final leg of the Sunshine Development Tour.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

The Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing is set to return for its 2026/27 season next month, building on a successful inaugural year with an expanded calendar that will now include events across both East and West Africa. Click this link https://a.meridianbet.ke/c/C7pYjz to start gaming and stand a chance of winning big with Meridianbet.

In addition to eleven Kenyan tournaments and a return to Kigali for the SportsBiz Africa Championship, the new season will feature a West African leg, the Alpha Bravo Golf Classic, scheduled to take place from 18th to 21st November 2026 at Lakowe Lakes Golf Estate in Lagos, Nigeria.

The season kicks off with obligatory Qualifying Schools (Q-School) offering players from both East and West Africa an opportunity to earn Sunshine Development Tour membership and compete for Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points and full Sunshine Tour playing cards.

SDT Q School (East) will be held from 7th to 10th April 2026 at Limuru Country Club and Q School (West) will be held from 13th to 15th April 2026 also at Lakowe Lakes Golf Estate in Lagos, Nigeria.

The Lagos event is expected to attract a strong field from Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Cote D’Ivoire, Senegal and the wider West African region and represents the first structured pathway in the region linking players to continental and global golf opportunities through the Sunshine Tour system.

John Lejirma of Royal Nairobi Golf Club in action during the Shunshine Development Tour East Africa Swing in Ruiru.

The Q-Schools will determine the ranking category of players who secure playing rights for the upcoming season, reinforcing the Tour’s merit-based qualification structure that has been central to its success. Following this, the first leg of the season will be held at Thika Sports Club from 19th – 21st April.

Speaking on the expansion, Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing Promoter Charles Gacheru noted that the growth of the Tour reflects both the demand for competitive opportunities and the progress made in its first season.

“The first season showed us that there is real depth of talent across the region, and more importantly, a strong appetite for structured, competitive golf. Expanding into West Africa is a natural next step for us. It allows us to create a broader African pathway, where players can compete, earn world ranking points, and progress based on performance. Our focus remains on building a consistent, merit-based platform that gives African golfers a clear route to the Sunshine Tour and beyond,” said Gacheru.

He emphasized that extending the circuit to West Africa strengthens the overall pathway for African golfers, while maintaining a clear structure that rewards performance and consistency.

Sunshine Development Tour East Africa Swing Order of Merit Winner Njoroge Kibugu poses with his trophy at the Karen Country Club.

The development follows a successful inaugural season that concluded in January 2026 at Karen Country Club, where Njoroge Kibugu was crowned the Order of Merit champion. Kibugu dominated the season with four tournament wins and consistent top finishes, directly earning a full Sunshine Tour card. His rise has been one of the clearest examples of the Tour’s impact, with his performances on the circuit significantly boosting his Official World Golf Ranking including breaking into Africa’s Top 100 players and placing him on a stronger footing to compete internationally.

His steady rise through the Tour was further evidenced on the global stage at the Magical Kenya Open 2026, where he emerged as the only Kenyan to make the cut and play through to the weekend. He went on to finish the tournament at an impressive 6-under par, marking his personal best at the event and the best score by a Kenyan in the DP World Tour competition.

Joining him on the Sunshine Tour are Order of Merit runner-up Celestin Nsanzuwera and third-placed Dismas Indiza, both of whom had strong seasons. Nsanzuwera secured victories in Diani and Kigali and recorded multiple top-three finishes, while Indiza claimed a win at Ruiru and maintained consistent high finishes across the season.

On the women’s side, Naomi Wafula also emerged as a key beneficiary of the Tour’s pathway. Following a string of steady performances, she earned playing rights on the Sunshine Ladies Tour, where she is currently competing.

Besides the individual success inaugural season recorded strong participation and major progress in global rankings for 88 players from eight countries earned OWGR points through the Tour, with several making significant upward movements in the world rankings.

As the Tour enters its second season, the expanded structure is expected to deepen competition, broaden regional representation, and further solidify its role as a clear and accessible pathway for African golfers.

Muthaiga Golf Club’s Jay Sandhu celebrates after winning the 2026 NCBA Muthaiga Open title.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Home player Jay Sandhu has been crowned the winner of the 2026 NCBA Muthaiga Open, the fifth leg of the Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) circuit. Click this link https://a.meridianbet.ke/c/C7pYjz to start gaming and stand a chance of winning big with Meridianbet.

Fresh from his victory at the Windsor Classic, Sandhu maintained his blistering form over the three-round tournament, carding rounds of 69, 70, and 72 for a total of 2-under par 211 and successfully fending off a competitive field of 145 elite amateur golfers, that included fifteeen juniors, four of whom made the cut to play the final round

Despite bogeys on the 10th, 13th, and 14th holes during the final round, Sandhu secured his lead with critical birdies on the 4th and 18th.

Speaking after his triumph, Sandhu said: “Winning here at Muthaiga is always special, but to do it back-to-back after Windsor feels incredible. The course was playing fast, and I knew I had to stay patient when those bogeys crept in on the back nine. This win isn’t just about the trophy; it’s about the momentum we’re building for next year’s Magical Kenya Open qualification.”

Sandhu secured the top prize of Ksh 115,600 from the Ksh 400,000 purse.

The battle for second was equally intense. John Lejirma of Royal Nairobi Golf Club pushed the pace with an aggressive final round of 71. Lejirma’s scorecard was the most active of the day, featuring five birdies on holes 6, 7, 12, 15 and the 18th. However, five bogeys prevented him from catching Sandhu, leaving him at level par 213 (69, 73, 71) for the tournament, taking home Ksh 69,400.

2026 NCBA Muthaiga Open champion Jay Sandhu poses with his trophy.

Reflecting on his runner-up finish, Lejirma, who is the KAGC overall defending champion noted: “It was a fight from the first tee to the last green. I felt like I had the birdies in me today, but a few dropped shots especially on the par-4s kept the lead just out of reach. Two shots is a small margin at Muthaiga, but I’m happy with how I’m striking the ball. I can only hope to improve moving forward to other tournaments.”

Rounding out the podium was Michael Karanga who showed remarkable consistency and improvement throughout the weekend, carding rounds of 73, 71, and a final-day 70. His 1-under par final round was one of the best of the day, moving him into third place with a total of 1-over par 214. He earned Ksh 46,200 for his efforts.

Muthaiga’s Daniel Kiragu secured fourth place with a 3-over par 216, while Bo Ciera rounded out the top five at 4-over par 217.

Speaking at the prize-giving ceremony NCBA Ciata Mall Branch Manager Emmanuel Leitemu stated: At NCBA, we are incredibly happy to support the growth of golf in Kenya. Watching Jay Sandhu maintain his form and seeing the grit of players like Lejirma and Warigia confirms that the standard of the KAGC is reaching new heights. The circuit is growing stronger with every leg, and we are proud to provide a platform where every performance brings these athletes closer to their professional dreams.

With this win, Jay Sandhu extends his lead at the top of the standings with 560 points. Junior star Junaid Manji sits in second with 334 points, followed closely by John Lejirma in third with 230 points.