Vipingo Ridge-based Naomi Wafula at a past event

By AMANDA DAMARIS AND DANIELLA APIYO

A large field of 150 golfers have entered this year’s Ladies Coast Open to be held from Monday, July 31 to August 5 on various coast clubs namely Diamonds Leisure Golf Club, Mombasa Golf Club, Nyali Golf & Country Club, Malindi Golf Club, and finally at Vipingo Golf Ridge.

The Ladies Open under the umbrella of the Kenya Ladies Golf Union (KLGU) together with the KLGU Coast representative Teresia Odoo are delighted with the organization of the event so far and expect a memorable tourney.

The event has been successful through the major sponsorship from Tourism Fund, Grain Bulk Handlers, KCB, Family Bank, EABL, AAR Health Care, Kericho Gold, Base Titanium, Neptune Hotels, Sarova Whitesands, Pauland, Dermazuri, Ace Plastic Surgery, KCC, Khush Motors, Soliani, Coast Values, The LAWFORD, Fahawi Investments Ltd, Nulook Links, Plaza Beach Hotel, Paradise Destinations Ltd, Sandlovers Diani Real Estate, Atlas Tea Brokers, Silent night, Akina Tea, Tudor Health Care.

According to Odoo, the week-long tournament has attracted various golfers from around the country and the East African region at large, with participants coming from Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda. The event will prove a significant milestone in the history of the sport in Kenya and work to motivate the next generation of young female players throughout the country.

Most participants started arriving in the country from today for practice rounds and acclimatization and are set to depart on August 6 after the awards gala.

“We are also intending to do live scoring for the first time courtesy of KGU and KLGU.

The event will showcase Kenya as a unique golfing and holiday destination as well as elevate the country as an important player on the world’s stage, not just in terms of golf but sports in general,” Odoo told www.kenyagolfguide.co.ke.

The Coast Lady Captains who have managed to put all the event together include Cheryl Bush (Diamonds Leisure Golf Club), Fiona Mbandi (Mombasa Golf Club), Maria Mariga (Nyali Golf & Country Golf Club), Hamida Chidagaya (Malindi Golf Club), Sue Williams (Vipingo Ridge Golf Club).

Leisure Lodge Trophy defending champion Neema Olomi is expected to highlight the action, while the defending champion for Mombasa, Vipingo, and overall gross winner Naomi Wafula will also be present.

Nyali Bowl’s reigning champion Chanelle Wangari will be missing in action due to personal commitments. Other ladies to watch this year are Margaret Njoki, Allysa Jamal, Susan Stokes, Mary Kandu, Mwongeli Nzioka, Martha Bibirye, Jacky Walter, Mercy Nyanchama, Kelly Gachaga, Esther Chumo, Nancy Wanjiru.

Ag. Managing Director, KCB Investment Bank, Linus Kang’ara tees off during the
KCB East Africa Golf Tour held in Thika Golf Club.

By AMANDA DAMARIS AND DANELLA APIYO

The 8^th leg of the KCB East Africa Golf Tour will be held at the par 72 Nyeri Golf Club this coming weekend.

The much-anticipated tournament is expected to bring together over 100 golfers from different golf clubs in the country. Like the previous legs, the top two teams will book a slot in the Pro-Am grand finale slated for November in Nairobi.

So far, the KCB golf series has traversed Kakamega, Kisumu, Nairobi, and Kiambu counties reaching over 1, 000 participants and over 500 participants through the ladies’ and juniors’ clinics.

KCB Group CEO Paul Russo said: “The KCB Golf series heads to the second oldest golf course in the country this weekend with an aim of reaching more people to improve the sport and to also offer our customers an opportunity to interact and network with various business people away from the normal office setting. As a brand, we are also proud to be associated with the development of this sport right from the grassroot level, this is why through the series we are traversing many counties within Kenya.”

A week ago, Samuel Njunu, Linda Kinyua, Julius Wanyaga, and Susan Irungu displayed unparalleled golfing prowess to return a combined score of 139 points to emerge the winners of the 7^th leg of KCB Golf series in Thika.

“We are excited to be part of the KCB East Africa Golf Tour, we promise to host a very successful tournament and it is our hope that many golfers will register for this competitive tournament. Nyeri offers a conducive environment for a golf outing and the balmy weather makes golfers enjoy the fairways as much as they can. We look forward to an action-packed weekend,” noted Jacob Nyaga, Nyeri Golf Club Captain.

The weekend action will be preceded by a customer engagement dinner on Friday evening before the juniors’ and Ladies’ golf clinics on Sunday afternoon.

After the Nyeri edition, action will resume on August 5^th for the tour’s 9^th leg in Nakuru County.