Thika Sports Club Captain, PGK Chairman C J Wangai, Winner Samuel Chege, Nazreen Wangari Safaricom Representative

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Samuel Chege was crowned champion of the second leg of the PGK Equator Tour Season 2 after an outstanding four-round performance at Thika Sports Club, finishing the tournament at an impressive 10-under-par overall. Click this link https://a.meridianbet.ke/c/C7pYjz to start gaming and stand a chance of winning big with Meridianbet.

Chege, who had maintained his lead through three rounds, displayed consistency and composure throughout the tournament to secure one of the biggest wins of the season so far.

Veteran professional Dismas Indiza mounted a strong challenge and finished closely behind in second place at 9-under-par, while Michael Karanga claimed third place at 5-under-par following another solid performance.

The second leg of the tour attracted a highly competitive field and once again highlighted the growing standard of professional golf in Kenya under the PGK Equator Tour initiative. Each event on the tour carries a Kshs. 1.5 million prize purse awarded to the top 20 players, providing consistent, competitive, and earning opportunities for professionals across the country.

Samuel in action

The tournament also continues to demonstrate the importance of the Corporate League partnership model, with several leading professionals proudly representing sponsoring brands throughout the event.

Speaking after the tournament, officials from the Professional Golfers of Kenya (PGK) thanked all sponsors and partners including NCBA, Visa, Safaricom, Britam, Kenya Airways, Johnnie Walker, Betika, and Computech for their continued support and commitment toward the success of the tour.

“The continued support from our sponsors and partners has played a major role in creating competitive opportunities for our professionals and elevating the standard of the game in Kenya. We sincerely appreciate their commitment to the PGK Equator Tour and to the development of professional golf,” said PGK Chairman C J Wangai.

“The momentum continues! Following Sammy Chege’s brilliant victory today, our team has firmly sustained their incredible form into the current season, already securing back-to-back wins after finishing at the top of the corporate standings last year.

We are truly pleased to see the impact this series is having on the players, shaping them and preparing them to compete at the highest level on global stages such as the Magical Kenya Open. We are incredibly proud of their continued success and remain committed to backing the four golfers under the Safaricom Corporate team, Samuel Chege Njoroge, Mohit Mediratta, Mutahi Kibugu, and Mathew Wahome as they build on their experience, drive forward, and rise to even higher levels of competition.” Said Nazreen Wangari, Safaricom Representative

The PGK Equator Tour now moves to its next leg at Limuru Country Club from 18^th to 21^st June 2026 as players continue battling for Order of Merit points and top honours in Season 2.

Dismas Indiza tees off at the Shunshine Development Tour East Africa Swing Ruiru Leg.

By DANIELLA APIYO

All is set for the Johnnie Walker Classic, the sixth leg of the Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing (SDT–EAS), which will take place from 13th to 15th October 2025 at the Royal Nairobi Golf Club. Click this link https://a.meridianbet.ke/c/C7pYjz to start gaming and stand a chance of winning big with Meridianbet.

The tournament will see 82 golfers from across Africa battle it out for Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) and Sunshine Development Tour Order of Merit points, and a Ksh 2 million prize purse.

The event will be preceded by the Johnnie Walker Pro-Am on Saturday, 11th October, giving amateurs the rare chance to tee off alongside top regional professionals before the main championship begins.

This year’s Royal leg has attracted an impressive field of elite professionals and top amateurs from Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Malawi, and Burundi. It will feature 54 holes of play, with the top 30 players and ties making the cut after round two to compete in the final round on Wednesday, 15th October.

The tournament received a major boost with the announcement that Vivo Energy Kenya, the Shell licensee in Kenya, has come on board as a sponsor for the Royal leg — reinforcing its commitment to supporting the growth of professional and elite amateur golf in the country.

Speaking during the announcement, Yvonne Samantha Achieng, Marketing Manager at Vivo Energy Kenya, expressed the company’s pride in partnering with the Sunshine Development Tour, noting that the partnership aligns with the company’s broader goal of empowering communities through sport.

“We are delighted to support the development of professional and elite amateur golf in the country. This partnership reflects our strategic objectives of investing in sports that continue to shape Kenya’s reputation on the global stage,” said Ms. Achieng.

“We are looking forward to being part of the success story of Kenyan sports, and through this golf sponsorship, we hope to see more Kenyan and East African golfers excel in global tournaments such as the Magical Kenya Open and even the Olympic Games,” she added.

Peter Gacheru, IMG Kenya CEO welcomed the partnership, emphasizing the Tour’s growing role in transforming regional golf.

“We are thrilled to have Vivo Energy Kenya join hands with us for the Royal tournament. Their support demonstrates growing corporate confidence in the Tour’s role in transforming regional golf. The East Africa Swing has changed the landscape of professional golf in our region — we’re seeing stronger participation, improved performance, and increasing global recognition through world ranking points,” he said.

“With the support of partners like Johnnie Walker and Vivo Energy Kenya, we’re not just growing a tournament — we’re building a pathway for African golfers to the global stage.”

Tournament Director, David Kihara, confirmed that the Royal Nairobi Golf Club is in perfect condition and ready for play:

“Preparations are in top gear for the Royal leg. The course is in excellent condition, and we expect highly competitive golf throughout the three days. We’re delighted to see a strong international field and vibrant local participation, which reflects how far the Tour has come.”

The tournament field includes top professionals such as Celestin Nsanzuwera (Rwanda), winner of the previous leg in Kigali; Kenya’s Njoroge Kibugu, Mutahi Kibugu, Dismas Indiza, David Wakhu, Greg Snow, and John Lejirma; alongside Visitor Mapwanya (Zimbabwe), Olapade Sunday (Nigeria), and Phillip Kasozi (Uganda).

Among the female golfers set to compete are Naom Wafula (Kenya), Angel Eaton (Tanzania), Margaret Njoki (Kenya), Ashley Awuor (Kenya), Kellie Gachaga (Kenya), and Madina Hussein (Tanzania) — continuing the Tour’s commitment to inclusion and supporting women in golf.

The Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing is a professional golf circuit that provides a structured pathway for elite amateur and professional golfers in Africa. Players earn Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) and World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points, alongside Sunshine Development Tour Order of Merit points that help them qualify for higher-tier tours such as the Sunshine Tour and Big Easy Tour in South Africa.