Acting Chief Financial Services Officer Safaricom PLC Boniface Mungania (far
left) presents a dummy cheque of Sh 26.8 million to support the 2023 Magical
Kenya Ladies Open golf tournament to Dirk Glittenberg of U.com Chairman, Vice Chairman Kenya Golf Union Philip Ochola and Vipingo Ridge chairman Alastair Cavenagh.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Safaricom’s mobile money service, M-PESA, has announced a Sh 26.8 million sponsorship for the third edition of the Magical Kenya Ladies Golf Open. The Magical Kenya Ladies Open remains the only event of its kind and the highest-ranked professional ladies’ tournament across the continent providing a unique opportunity for the development of upcoming female golfers in the region.

The tournament will be the first in a series of 39 golf events on the Ladies European Tour 2023 calendar. The event is set to take place from February 2 to 5 at Vipingo Ridge, Baobab Course in Kilifi County, with 96 players from across the world expected to take to the course in a 72-stroke competition.

“We are delighted to sponsor the Magical Kenya Ladies Open yet again, for the third year in a row. This sponsorship highlights our strong commitment to supporting sports in the country and promoting Kenya as a premier sporting and tourist destination. The Ladies European Tour provides our young Kenyan lady golfers with an opportunity to learn and grow in the sport, which is in line with our goal of supporting talent through the spirit of Tuinuane,” said Peter Ndegwa, CEO, Safaricom.

Safaricom will further sponsor all participating Kenyan players providing both additional financial support and kitting. As part of its ambition to develop talent, Safaricom will also fully sponsor four female junior golfers drawn from last year’s Safaricom Golf Tour who will be participating in the Pro-Am tournament on February 1. 100 junior golfers are also set to benefit from a full-day clinic with coaching from the professional golfers.

The Kenyan team will be led by Vipingo Ridge’s PGA Academy star Naomi Wafula, VetLab’s Mercy Nyanchama and 16-year-old Chanelle Wangari, and Golf Park’s Nancy Wairimu. The quartet will take the course under the amateur category.

Among international golfers scheduled to participate in the tournament is defending champion, German lady professional Esther Henseleit who is back hoping to retain her Magical Kenya Ladies Open title for the third time. However, Henseleit is expected to face stiff competition from Marta Sanz Barrio of Spain and Linnea Strom of Sweden who finished second and third respectively in last year’s competition. There is a €300,000 cash prize for the winner.

The tournament is part of the Ladies European Tour, organised by U.COM Event. It will be preceded by the Pro-Am tournament set for February 1 at the same golf facility.

“It is a great honour for us to be hosting the European Ladies Tour for the third year. This is a spectacular global event that we feel proud about and preparations are in top gear. I want to thank Safaricom through M-PESA  for their great support. They have walked with us throughout the journey since we first held our first regional tournament in 2019,” said Dirk Glittenberg, CEO, U.COM Event.

Safaricom has been the key sponsor of the event since 2019 when the tournament was first held in the country and the East African region. Last year, in the second edition, the telco offered sponsorship of SSh. 20 million.

Vipingo Ridge, Baobab Course in Kilifi County is a par 72 and an 18-hole Championship Golf Course. So far it is the only (UK) PGA-accredited golf course in Africa.

Since its formation in 1978, the Ladies European Tour has crowned more than 250 winners, with 700 championship trophies won by players from over 30 countries

Asa Dinkins

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Asa Dinkins of Limuru Country Club played an aggregate of 223 gross in the just concluded Sigona Junior Open to emerge the overall winner. This is after warding off stiff competition from overnight leader Krish Shah of VetLab Sports Club and runners-up Elvis Muigua of Kiambu Golf Club. Asa played a score of level par 72 in the final round to win by 1 stroke over Elvis who played an aggregate of 224 gross. Krish Shah played a gross of 225 finishing third overall and first in the Boys 16-18 years. Tanish Gudkha of Muthaiga Golf Club followed closely with a score of 226 gross.

Ali Khimji of Sigona Golf Club got a hole-in-one on Hole No. 11 and played a fantastic score of one over par in the final round.

In the girls 19-21 years category, Faith Ontune won with a gross score of 243 while Ashley Awuor was the nett winner with a score of 224 nett. Channelle Wangari of Vetlab posted the best score among the girls, 238 gross and won in the girls 16-18 years category. Kelvin Kiplenge of Nakuru Golf Club played the best net of 207 and won in the boy’s 16-18 years category. Junaid Manji of Muthaiga played a gross score of 240 to win in the Boys 14-15 years, while Kayden Wissanji played 255 gross to win in the Boys 13 years and under category. Audrey Gachora, also from Muthaiga, played 257 gross to win in the girl’s 13 years and under category.

The tournament attracted 87 boys and girls from across the country who played the first two rounds. The top 48 after two rounds made the cut to the final round on Wednesday. In addition to the awards, the participating juniors get a chance to get World Amateur Ranking (WAGR) points based on their performance.

The Kenya Golf Federation (KGF) Chairman-Mr. Peter Kiguru appreciated the high level of golf displayed on the course and gave the commitment of KGF to support junior golf activities.  The Junior Golf Foundation President-Mrs. Regina Gachora appreciated all the juniors and parents for their participation in the event and expressed JGF’s Vision of having some of the juniors participate in the 2028 Olympics. “We have doubled the number of WAGR Rankings events in 2023 from the current 6 to 12 and we want to give as many juniors opportunities to get ranked,’’ she said.