Cherono Kipkorir in action during the Royal Nairobi Golf Club NCBA Golf Series qualifier

By AMANDA DAMARIS

The 2026 NCBA Golf Series is set to continue this Saturday February 14 ahead of a busy golfing weekend that will also have the Kenya Amateur Golf Championship Series take place, and the US Kids Golf tee off. Click this link https://a.meridianbet.ke/c/C7pYjz to start gaming and stand a chance of winning big with Meridianbet.

Muthaiga Golf Club will host the third leg of the 2026 NCBA Golf Series where more than 200 golfers will battle for the seven Grand Finale slots up for grabs across different categories.

Golfers will battle for top honors in multiple categories including the overall gross winner men, overall gross winner lady, overall gross runners up men, overall gross runners up lady, the third and fourth best overall gross, and junior winner.

More golf action will unfold at the Great Rift Valley Lodge where 78 amateurs will be battling for the 3rd NCBA Great Rift Valley Championship title from Friday 13 through to Sunday 15 as the Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) Series enters the third leg as well.

Rafael Leming’ani will be out to defend the title he won last year, edging out Josphat Rono and Ebill Omollo in a three-hole playoff after the trio finished round three tied at 11-over par 224.

Leming’ani will be joined by Rono on the course with John Kamais and Isaac Makokha also among the players in the draw. Louisa Gitau will be the only female golfer on the course over the weekend.

The defending champion is optimistic that a good start to the KAGC series which has seen him win the Mt Kenya Championship two weeks ago will propel him.

“There is a little bit of pressure going into this leg because everyone is looking at me as the defending champion. However, I have had a good start to the series and the win at the Mt Kenya Championship is a big boost for me at such an early stage in the competition. I have trained well and I am ready for the weekend,” Leming’ani said.

NCBA Kenya MD James Gossip follows his putt during the Royal Nairobi Golf Club qualifier

In addition to the NCBA Golf Series and the KAGC Series, the NCBA US Kids Golf Spring Nairobi Tour will tee off at the VetLab Sports Club on Sunday, February 15.

The junior event, which is jointly organized by U.S. Kids Golf and the Junior Golf Foundation Kenya, is expected to attract over 100 junior golfers aged between 5 and 18 years, both boys and girls.

This event underscores NCBA’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of golfing talent by providing young players with a competitive yet supportive platform.

NCBA Group Managing Director John Gachora stated, “We are set for the first busy golfing weekend of the year where we will have activities across the NCBA Golf Series, the KAGC series, and the US Kids Golf Spring Nairobi Tour. This is a testament to what we continue to work towards in our involvement in the sport to ensure that we grow the game at all levels.

This NCBA series and the KAGC Series teed off earlier, and both are set for the third leg this weekend, and the enthusiasm is already showing. We are proud to support this dynamic sport that fosters community and skill development across the region.”

Naom Wafula in action during the Johnnie Walker Classic, the sixth leg of the Sunshine Development Tour East Africa Swing at the Royal Nairobi Golf Club on Monday, 13th October 2025.

By DANIELLA APIYO

Kenyan professional golfer Naom Wafula is set to make her debut on the Sunshine Ladies Tour this week in South Africa, marking a historic milestone in her career after earning a playing card to the prestigious continental tour for professional lady golfers. Click this link https://a.meridianbet.ke/c/C7pYjz to start gaming and stand a chance of winning big with Meridianbet.

The card grants her access to this year’s Sunshine Ladies Tour following a consistent and impressive showing at the recently concluded inaugural season on the Sunshine Development Tour East Africa Swing.

Naomi left Kenya for South Africa on Sunday, ahead of her debut at the Sunshine Ladies Tour this week where she will feature as the only East African.

She will tee off her Sunshine Ladies Tour journey at the SuperSport Ladies Challenge, scheduled for this week from 4th to 6th February 2026 at Humewood Golf Club. The 54-hole tournament carries a prize purse of R1.3 million (approximately KES 10.4 million) and has attracted a field of 56 professional golfers.

The field features players from 15 countries, including South Africa, Canada, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Scotland, Finland, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Czech Republic, Swaziland, United States Virgin Islands and Kenya.

Speaking ahead of her debut, Wafula said she feels ready for the step up, crediting the Sunshine Development Tour East Africa Swing for her preparation and growth.

“I feel well prepared going into my first Sunshine Ladies Tour event. Playing on the Sunshine Development Tour gave me regular competitive golf, exposure to strong fields and helped me understand what is required at the next level. I am excited to test myself and continue learning as I take this next step in my career,” she said.

Sunshine Development Tour East Africa Swing Chairman, Peter Gacheru said Wafula’s progression reflects the purpose and impact of the Tour.

“Naom’s debut on the Sunshine Ladies Tour is exactly what the Sunshine Development Tour was created to achieve. She earned this opportunity through consistent performance and merit. It is a proud moment for Kenyan and East African golf and a clear demonstration that the pathway we have built is working,” said Gacheru.

Following the SuperSport Ladies Challenge, Wafula is scheduled to compete in several more Sunshine Ladies Tour events, including the NTT Data Ladies Pro Am from 13 – 15 February at Fancourt Montagu, the Standard Bank Ladies Open from 5 – 7 March at Durbanville Golf Club, and the Jabra Ladies Classic from 11–13 March at Killarney Country Club.

Her season will continue with the Platinum Ladies Open from 18 – 20 March at Blair Atholl Golf and Equestrian Estate, the Absa Ladies Invitational from 26 – 28 March at Royal Johannesburg, the Joburg Ladies Open from 16 – 19 April at Randpark Golf Club, the Investec SA Women’s Open from 23 –  26 April at Royal Cape Golf Club, and the MCB Ladies Classic from 1 – 3 May 2026.

Wafula’s Sunshine Ladies Tour debut marks another historic step for Kenyan women’s golf and highlights the growing role of the Sunshine Development Tour East Africa Swing as a pathway to global professional tours. Naom made history by becoming the first Kenyan golfer to earn a card to play at the Sunshine Ladies Tour.