Kate Ngotho, Overall Ladies winner receives her winner’s prize from NCBA Group MD John Gachora during the NCBA Golf Series at Karen Country Club

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Home players Nick Markham and Kate Ngotho emerged as the overall winners at the latest leg of the 2026 NCBA Golf Series held at Karen Country Club on Saturday, as golfers competed for top honours and coveted spots at the Series Grand Finale scheduled for later this year. Click this link https://a.meridianbet.ke/c/C7pYjz to start gaming and stand a chance of winning big with Meridianbet.

Markham claimed the Overall Men’s title after returning an impressive score of 75 gross in a competitive field that featured some of the country’s top club golfers.

Speaking after his victory, Markham expressed his delight at the win and securing his place at the season-ending finale.

“It feels fantastic to win this leg of the series. I had a good round and had great playing partners. My putter didn’t work quite well today and I feel I could have gone lower, but I am happy with my round today. Qualifying for the Grand Finale is a validation that my game is going in the right direction, and I am excited to see where the next step can take us,” said Markham.

Karen Country Club’s Nick Markham tees off during his home club’s leg of the NCBA Golf Series.

In the ladies’ category, Kate Ngotho emerged as the Overall Lady Winner after carding 89 gross on countback, capping off a significant personal milestone after a challenging previous season.

“I am so excited to have emerged top because last year was quite a struggle, so I am very happy to have gotten through this round. Qualifying for the finale means that I get the opportunity to compete against many other players from other clubs and prove that I am the best lady player,” said Ngotho.

Paul Kaguamba finished as the Men’s Runner-Up after posting 77 gross on countback, while Margareta Gram claimed the Ladies’ Runner-Up prize with 89 gross on countback.

In the Division One category, Kiunjuri Mathu emerged victorious after returning an outstanding 84 gross score. Liban Roba finished third on 77 gross on countback, while Lesaan Shani took fourth place with 78 gross on countback.

The Division Two categories saw Edwin Nyairo claim the Men’s title with an impressive 43 points, while Jacintah Wambugu secured the Ladies’ honours after carding 38 points.

In Division Three, junior golfer Mutei Mwendwa won the Men’s category with 38 points, while Susan Kihato topped the Ladies’ category with 41 points.

Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa follows the path of his tee shot during the NCBA Golf Series at Karen Country Club.

Speaking after the tournament, NCBA Group Managing Director John Gachora said the continued growth of the Series reflects the increasing popularity of golf across the country and the value of creating opportunities for golfers of all abilities to compete.

“The NCBA Golf Series continues to provide a platform where golfers can challenge themselves, connect with one another and enjoy the game at some of the country’s best courses. We are encouraged by the strong participation we continue to witness across the Series and remain committed to supporting the growth of golf while creating opportunities for more players to experience and enjoy the sport,” said Gachora.

The event marked the sixteenth qualifier of the 2026 NCBA Golf Series calendar, which has attracted thousands of golfers across the country this season. Winners from the various categories earned qualification spots to the highly anticipated Grand Finale set for November at Karen Country Club.

The Series forms part of NCBA’s broader commitment to supporting golf development in Kenya through investments across junior, amateur, professional and club golf.

Curtis Cup star Farah O’Keefe is part of the strongest-ever representation of golfers from the United States of America for next week’s 123^rd Women’s Amateur Championship at Muirfield. Click this link https://a.meridianbet.ke/c/C7pYjz to start gaming and stand a chance of winning big with Meridianbet.

O’Keefe, who became only the fourth player in Curtis Cup history to win all five matches in the USA’s win at Bel-Air last week, is among 40 American players travelling across the Atlantic to tee up at Muirfield as The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers welcomes a world class field.

Overall, there was a record 276 entries for the Championship as Muirfield – host to The Open on 16 occasions and the venue for the AIG Women’s Open in 2022 – stages The Women’s Amateur for the first time from 22-27 June.

Five of the top ten on the women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®) are competing among the 144 players in East Lothian, as well as 11 from the top 20. In total, players from 33 countries are represented in pursuit of one of the most coveted titles in the women’s amateur game.

World number three O’Keefe, the runner-up to Spain’s Paula Martín Sampedro in an absorbing 2&1 defeat at Nairn last year, is joined by two of her victorious Curtis Cup team-mates at Muirfield, Anna Davis and Jasmine Koo.

University of Texas player O’Keefe, who recently won the 2026 ANNIKA Award which honours the most outstanding female NCAA Division I collegiate golfer, said, “Muirfield is a big reason for so many American players coming over. I feel like if it was at St Andrews it would be the same deal. I think everybody just wants to go and play incredible golf courses over there, the links style.

“I know that Muirfield is incredibly famous and there is a lot of history there – and I think it’s just a really cool opportunity to put the women’s game in that kind of spotlight. I know they had the AIG Women’s Open in 2022 and now to have a Women’s Amateur is a big deal. I think it’s going to be pretty cool.”

With the victor earning a place in four major championships – The Amundi Evian Championship and AIG Women’s Open later this summer as well as the Chevron Championship and the US Women’s Open in 2027 – O’Keefe hopes to continue her impressive play at her fourth appearance in the Championship.

The 21-year-old, who is joined by defending champion Martín Sampedro at Muirfield, added, “I do want to go one better. It was a great match last summer and that might have been one of the most heartbreaking tournaments that I’ve played.

“When I went over there, I was really just going for the experience, to learn from other really good players, going with Team USA and the coaches. But then I made it to the Final, and it felt like that first 18 holes was like, ‘wow, this could really be mine.’ And then I got to the second 18 and it was completely different.

“I’ve never felt anything like that in my life where you wanted something so badly and then you don’t get it. I have more experience under my belt and the winner goes to majors so it’s definitely worth playing.”

Seven members of Great Britain and Ireland’s Curtis Cup team are also playing at Muirfield, the English group of Patience Rhodes, Sophia Fullbrook, Isla McDonald-O’Brien, Charlotte Naughton, Lily Hirst, Davina Xanh and Nellie Ong.

Ohio State’s Ong, who qualified for the recent US Women’s Open presented by Ally at Riviera, said, “I haven’t played links golf in probably a year now so I’m really excited to play because I love that style of golf, as being in America there is nothing really like it.

“The Women’s Amateur is one of the events in the calendar that you circle, just how prestigious it is. Playing in an event like that means a lot. I appreciate how lucky I am to be playing all these top golf courses and recognise that this sport can take you a lot of places. I’m very grateful for that.”

Martín Sampedro (two on WAGR®), O’Keefe (three), Andrea Revuelta from Spain (four), Sweden’s Meja Ortengren (six) and Rianne Malixi (ten) from the Philippines are all part of the impressive field.

Thailand’s Eila Galitsky, winner of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific in 2023, also competes, while Vanessa Borovilos and Lauren Kim, both placed inside the world’s top 20, lead the Canadian challenge.

The Women’s Amateur Championship is one of the leading championships in amateur golf for women and girls’ golfers. The Championship, founded in 1893, annually attracts an international field with an impressive list of former winners including McCormack Medal winner Leona Maguire and major champions Georgia Hall and Anna Nordqvist.

The field will take part in stroke play on Monday 22 June and Tuesday 23 June over 36 holes. From there, 64 players will advance to the match play stage from Wednesday 24 to Saturday 27 June.

The winner will also, by tradition, earn a spot in next year’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur as well as earning invitations to August’s Standard Portland Classic on the LPGA Tour and a Ladies’ European Tour event. The runner-up will gain a spot in Final Qualifying for the AIG Women’s Open.

The R&A will provide live stream coverage of the quarter-finals, semi-finals and Final (plus highlights) on www.randa.tv and The R&A’s YouTube channel, with coverage also broadcast by Sky Sports.

For more information and to view the full field, please visit www.randa.org.