Kenya Golf President Philip Ochola drives a shot during the KCB East Africa Golf Tour
Launch at Royal Golf Club on January 23, 2025.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

The 9-hole Mombasa Sports Club will play host to the second leg of the KCB East Africa Golf Tour on Saturday as 100 golfers flex their muscles in the eagerly awaited tourney.

Golfers will brave the lush green as early as 6:30 am for the morning tee action while the afternoon tee is scheduled to kick off at 12:30 pm. Top amateur golfers from Mombasa and its environs will take part in the competition.

Speaking about the event, Mombasa Sports Club Vice Captain George Mokaya said: “It is such an honor to be part of the KCB Golf series for the second year running. Last year, we had a successful tournament so we expect to replicate the same this year. We have many golfers who have already booked their slots for the weekend’s action. I am looking forward to a fruitful golf action.”

The top two teams from Saturday’s action will automatically book their places in the tour’s grand finale which is slated for December 5, 2025. The venue for this year’s grand finale will be announced ahead of the event.

Just like last year, the winning team will receive a KShs. 1 million cash reward that will go to a sustainability team that their club is currently undertaking. Additionally, they will get an opportunity to participate in a prestigious golf tournament.

“We firmly believe that we are playing a pivotal role in pushing the golf agenda. Our involvement in the sport is aimed at providing a platform for enthusiasts to enjoy themselves while also putting Kenya on the global map as a sporting nation. Mombasa has a growing fanbase of golf so it was a no-brainer for us to go back and host our tournament for the second consecutive time,” said KCB Group Director Marketing and Communications Rosalind Gichuru.

KCB’s efforts to expand the sport will see the bank host a juniors-only golf clinic on Sunday and a tree-planting exercise in a bid to strengthen environmental conservation initiatives through the golf series.

The next leg of the KCB East Africa Golf Tour will be held at the Nandi Bears Club on February 15, 2025.

Martin Mengech (R) receives a golf bag prize from NCBA Corporate Banking – Sector Head, Agriculture, William Muguima (L) during the Nandi Bears Golf Club leg of the 2025 NCBA Golf Series.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Home player Martin Mengech (handicap 45) delivered a stellar performance, carding an impressive 46 points to win the Overall Winner title at the NCBA Golf Series at the par-72 Nandi Bears Golf Club in Nandi County.

The tournament held over the weekend saw the participation of over 150 golfers drawn from across the region, including those from Kakamega, Kericho, and Eldoret golf clubs.

In the Men’s Category, Boaz Sugut, playing off handicap 21, took first place with 39 points, while Joyce Rotich (handicap 31) claimed victory in the Ladies’ Category, scoring an impressive 45 points.

Among the juniors, 14-year-old Protus Ambani shone brightly, delivering a strong performance with 33 points to win the Junior Category.

These top four golfers—Mengech, Sugut, Rotich, and Ambani—have now qualified for the Grand Finale, where they will face off against other winners from the series for the championship title at the end of the year.

Meanwhile, in other categories, Nelson Koech emerged as the winner of the Longest Drive Men’s challenge while Faith Chemutai claimed the women’s title with her impressive drive. In the Nearest to the Pin challenge, Solomon Atsiaya took the prize for his precision.

Speaking at the event, NCBA Kapsabet Branch Manager Phederesy Wesonga, reiterated the bank’s commitment to supporting golf in the region, ensuring that both amateur and professional players have opportunities to compete, improve, and grow within the sport.

“This year we have taken it a notch higher in matters of golf by getting into a partnership with the Professional Golfers of Kenya as a way of completing the cycle, while at the same time extending our involvement with the Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) and the Junior Golf Foundation (JGF),” said Wesonga.

He added: “We believe that these partnerships will come in handy this year at all levels, seeking to cater to the needs of the junior golfers, the amateurs, and the professional golfers as well. We believe that golf is not just a sport but an avenue to bring people together, build strong communities and grow in life as we grow in sport.”

The next leg of the series is set to take place at the Malindi Golf Club on February 8th as golfers continue to battle for a place in the Grand Finale.

As part of NCBA Bank’s ongoing commitment to golf development, the 2025 series has expanded, with 159 events scheduled across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda, up from 130 events in 2024.