The KCB East Africa Golf Tour Grand Finale winning team from Burundi are awarded
a dummy cheque by KCB Group CEO Paul
Russo during Grand Finale at Karen Country Club.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Team Burundi produced a masterclass to win the 2025 KCB East Africa Golf Tour Grand Finale at the Karen Country Club, returning an impressive 118 points to lift the regional crown. Click this link https://a.meridianbet.ke/c/C7pYjz to start gaming and stand a chance of winning big with Meridianbet.

The quartet of Salvatore Ngezendore, Alexis Kibwimana, Brian Rasquinha, and Larissa Ninahazwe held their nerve on the demanding par-72 course as they edged out Kericho Club, whose team of Ignatius Ngetich, Ngetich Cheruiyot, Judy Chebon, and Debra Koske returned 116 points to finish runners-up.

Speaking moments after being crowned champions, Salvatore Ngezendore said: “We came in with a very clear strategy to stay consistent, stay calm, and trust each other’s strengths. The course was challenging, but we had prepared well. Winning this title shows what commitment can achieve, and our next step is to keep training together so we can represent Burundi even better on bigger stages.”

The victory earned Team Burundi KShs. 1 million, which will go towards a sustainability initiative at their home club, further cementing their contribution to developing the sport back home. Additionally, the champions will now enjoy full sponsorship from KCB to a prestigious golf tournament in Dubai.

Qverall winner of
the KCB East Africa Golf Tour 2025, Francis Odhiambo.

“This has been one of our most transformative sports programs,” he said. “Reaching over 3,000 participants and more than 2,000 juniors speaks to the power of investing in community sports. We are proud of the golfers who have grown through this platform and even prouder of the regional unity it continues to build,” noted KCB Group CEO Paul Russo.

In the individual categories, Francis Odhiambo emerged as the overall winner after posting 46 points, while Eliud Siganga secured the men’s title with 41 points, ahead of men’s runner-up Nicholas Amayo.

Among the ladies, Eleanor Wambui of Nyeri Club clinched victory with 39 points, narrowly beating Njeri Mwangi, who carded 38 points. Victor Odendo took home the staff winner’s prize with 44 points, while budding star Nathaniel Alimasi dominated the juniors after returning 45 points.

The longest drive accolades went to David Murima in the men’s category and Njeri Anyango among the ladies. Karume Weke was the nearest to the pin in the men’s category, while Nanyonga Gloria bagged it in the women’s category.

The Grand Finale marked the close of a dynamic 30-leg amateur series staged across more than 15 Counties in Kenya and four other East African nations, including Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, and Tanzania. 

Overall Gross Lady Winner Cherono Kipkorir in action during Royal Nairobi Golf Club leg of the 2025 NCBA Golf Series.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

All is set for the 2025 NCBA Golf Series Grand Finale tomorrow, Friday, November 28th, at the par 72 Muthaiga Golf Club, marking the culmination of the fifth edition of the series. Click this link https://a.meridianbet.ke/c/C7pYjz to start gaming and stand a chance of winning big with Meridianbet.

The highly anticipated event will bring together 250 golfers, with 90 of those coming from the qualifiers held in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda, competing for the series’ top honours in the overall, men’s, ladies’, and junior categories.

The Overall Winner, the Men Winner, and the Ladies Winner will each pocket KES 130,000. Golfers will also have a chance to take home a JCB Backhoe Loader courtesy of JCB Ganatra for a hole-in-one at the par 3 hole number 13.

Since the series teed off in January at the Kenya Railway Golf Club, more than 5,102 golfers have participated in the 40 tournaments held across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda.

VetLab’s Mary Karano will be making her third appearance at the Grand Finale, having made a constant appearance in the previous two editions.

Junior Golfer Wanjiku Mathu plays a tee shot during 2025 NCBA Golf Series qualying leg at Karen Country Club.

Speaking ahead of the finale, NCBA Group Managing Director John Gachora said: “The Grand Finale marks the culmination of a very successful series this year that has been bigger and better, transversing the region following the inclusion of Rwanda. We have made an effort to be at most clubs this year, whether through a main qualifier, a club night, or a monthly mug.

As we celebrate the fifth season, we are proud of the immense impact the series has had not just on the golfers but also on everyone else involved. We have made sure that everything at Muthaiga is in check to ensure we have a successful day as well. We remain committed to supporting golf in Kenya, and we look forward to hosting the golfers on Friday and experiencing a skillful round of golf.”

This will be the third time that Muthaiga will be hosting the grand finale since its inception in 2021. The inaugural edition’s grand finale was held at the Karen Country Club in 2021, before moving to Muthaiga Golf Club the following year, Sigona Golf Club in 2023, then Muthaiga again in 2024.