By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS Kiambu Golf Club is set to host the latest leg of the 2026 NCBA Golf Series this Saturday, 29th August, as more golfers compete to qualify for the Grand Finale set for Karen Country Club on November 28. Click this link https://a.meridianbet.ke/c/C7pYjz to start gaming and stand a chance of winning big with Meridianbet. Apart from the Grand Finale slots up for grabs on Saturday, golfers will have a chance to win a brand-new JCB 3DX Backhoe loader for a hole-in-one on hole number 8, courtesy of JCB Ganatra. Around 200 golfers are expected to tee off in a fiercely competitive round with the Overall Gross Winner, Men’s Gross Winner, Lady Gross Winner, Division 2 Men Winner, Division 2 Lady Winner, Division 3 Winner, and the leading Junior earning their slots for the Karen showdown in November. Last year, Lennox Mutua emerged as the overall winner during the club’s leg of the 2025 NCBA Golf Series. Playing off handicap 21, Mutua posted an impressive net score of 67 to claim both the Overall Winner title and top honors in Division C, outshining a field of 140 golfers who turned up for the tournament. In Division A, Caesar Mugo (HCP 9) walked away with top honors after registering a net score of 72. Among the ladies, Carol Maina (HCP 31) secured the top spot with a net score of 73, ahead of Charity Njoroge (HCP 13), who finished as runner-up on 75. Division B was fiercely contested, with Ken Kimathi (HCP 15) producing a fine round of net 69 to secure top position. Kimathi also doubled as the overall Men’s Winner. Meanwhile, junior golf action will continue on Sunday, August 30, as the Ruiru Sports Club hosts the second leg of the 2026 NCBA U.S. Kids Golf Fall Local Tour – Nairobi. The tournament will bring together boys and girls aged between five and 18 years, competing in age-appropriate divisions designed to provide competitive experience while supporting their development in the sport. JGF President James Ondigo said: “The second leg of the NCBA U.S. Kids Golf Fall Local Tour is an important opportunity for our young golfers to build on the experience from the opening tournament and continue competing in a structured environment. We expect another exciting tournament at Ruiru Sports Club, with players across the different age categories getting valuable competitive exposure as they work on their skills and consistency. As the Fall Tour progresses, these events will play an important role in giving our juniors more opportunities to compete.” The Ruiru event follows the opening event held at Thika Greens Golf Resort the past Sunday, August 23 where Ivan Kipyegon Kimutai, James Tino, and Paren Reel posted the best scores.  Kimutai and Tino recorded one-under par 35 in the Boys 10 category as Reel carded one-under par 71 in the Boys 11 category. In the girls categories, Leticia Mwangale and Ashley Gachora had the best scores for the day in the Girls 11-12 and Girls 13-14 categories respectively, both playing equal par. The young golfers will also have an opportunity to earn Priority Status points, which could qualify them for U.S. Kids Golf international events, including the Regional Invitational and the U.S. Kids Golf Regional Championship.  

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Kakamega Sports Club veteran professional Dismas Indiza claimed his second Sunshine Development Tour title after edging out Karen Country Club’s Edwin Mudanyi in a dramatic sudden-death playoff at the conclusion of the Kabete Challenge at VetLab Sports Club on Tuesday. Click this link https://a.meridianbet.ke/c/C7pYjz to start gaming and stand a chance of winning big with Meridianbet.

Indiza and Mudanyi finished regulation play tied on 3-under par 213, forcing a playoff after an enthralling final round that saw both players trade blows in pursuit of the title.

Indiza, who began the day tied for the lead alongside Mudanyi and Michael Karanga, carded a composed 2-under par 70. His round featured birdies on the 4th, 5th, 17th and 18th holes, while bogeys on the 2nd and 7th threatened to derail his charge.

The veteran’s resilience proved decisive as he birdied the 18th hole to post the clubhouse lead and pile pressure on Mudanyi in the final group.

Speaking after his victory, Indiza said: “I’m very happy with the win. It wasn’t easy because the competition was very strong and Edwin played really well today. I stayed patient, trusted my experience and kept fighting until the last hole. Making that birdie on 18 gave me a chance, and once we got into the playoff, I knew I just had to stay focused and give myself an opportunity.”

“This is a good result for me and a big boost for the rest of the season.”

Mudanyi looked poised to secure the title after leading for much of the day. The Karen Country Club professional produced a steady round highlighted by birdies on the 1st, 7th and 10th holes, with his only dropped shot coming on the 3rd as he also signed for a 2-under par 70.

Heading to the 18th hole, Mudanyi held a one-shot advantage and appeared set to seal victory. However, a par on the closing hole, coupled with Indiza’s birdie moments earlier, saw the pair finish tied and head into a playoff where Indiza eventually emerged victorious.

Mudanyi said after the round: “It’s disappointing to come so close and not get the win, but that’s golf. I played solidly throughout the week and gave myself a chance. There are plenty of positives to take from this performance and I’ll use it as motivation going into the next events on the Tour.”

For his victory, Indiza pocketed KES 300,000 from the tournament’s KES 1.5 million prize purse, while Mudanyi earned KES 160,500 for his runner-up finish.

Finishing third was elite amateur Adel Balala of Nyali Golf & Country Club, who carded a tournament total of 2-under par 214. Balala once again demonstrated his growing stature on the regional golf scene with a consistent three-round performance against a strong professional field.

Balala said: “I’m pleased with how I played this week. Competing against some of the region’s best professionals and finishing near the top gives me a lot of confidence. There are still areas I can improve on, but overall it’s been a positive week and I’m looking forward to the next challenge.”

Newly turned professional Michael Karanga continued his impressive start to life in the paid ranks, finishing fourth on 1-under par 215.

Rwanda’s Celestin Nsanzuwera was the highest-ranked foreign player, finishing tied eighth alongside Kenya’s Mutahi Kibugu on 4-over par 220.

The Kabete Challenge attracted 67 players from 10 countries, including professionals, amateurs and junior golfers from across East Africa and beyond.

The tournament formed the third leg of the 2026 Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing season and offered players valuable Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points, World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points and Sunshine Development Tour Order of Merit points, which are crucial for progression to the main Sunshine Tour.