-It runs from Friday 11 th, to Sunday 13 th, featuring an estimated over 100 elite Amateurs across the Country with handicap 18 and below for a three days of coastal golf extravaganza that also carries crucial KAGC and World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points.
-Defending Champion Kiambu’s Elvis Muigua, last year showed exactly what it takes to conquer Malindi and this year, the question is simple, ‘Can he do it again,’ as home club’s Joseph Sulubu leads some team colleagues to ensure the cup remains home.
-Club Captain Sifa Dena said the course is ready, the competition is coming and the Vasco Da Gama Cup is waiting to see whether the local players at MGCC will bring it home or whether the 2025 champion will successfully defend his crown.
MAARUFU MOHAMED-GOLFNEWSLINKS.
The sea breeze is up, the surrounding Baobabs trees stand tall and the greens are rolling true, as the 9-hole par-70 Malindi Golf and Country Club in Kilifi County, sounds ready to host Kenya’s elite amateurs for the NCBA Malindi Open in the ‘Vasco Da Gama Cup.’
The sea level course providing a full 18-hole playing experience is set to host the 54-hole championship, part of the Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) Series organized by Kenya Golf Union (KGU) and sponsored by NCBA,
It expected to run from Friday 11 th, to Sunday 13 th, featuring an estimated over 100 elite Amateurs across the Country with handicap 18 and below for a three days of coastal golf extravaganza that also carries crucial KAGC and World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points.
Top names from Kiambu, Vet Lab, Mombasa and Nyali are expected in the fierce competition across the layout, famous for its resident monkeys and palm-lined corridors that demands accurate tee shots.
Beyond trophies, the NCBA Series also offers the winner bragging rights as the navigator who conquered Malindi.
One name that will be on everyone’s lips, is Kiambu’s Elvis Muigua, the defending champion who
last year showed exactly what it takes to conquer Malindi and this year, the question is simple, ‘Can he do it again’ as all eyes will also focus on home club’s Joseph Sulubu who leads a team from the Club, who is expected to looking forward to having the Vasco Da Gama Cup remain at home.
According to the program, the field is packed with experienced players and exciting young talents, all looking to make their mark.
The opening two days will see the elite amateurs battle it out for a place in the Sunday’s final round, where the pressure really begins.
The cut will fall on Saturday evening, separating those who have done enough to earn their place in the final round from those whose tournament will come to an end.
Before the elite’s take to the course for their final round, there will be a subsidiary competition on Saturday for the members of the Club to enjoy the course with tee times between 7am and 8:30am.
Then comes the moment everyone will be waiting for, the Sunday main tournament where the surviving elite amateurs will go head-to-head for the ultimate honors.
Club Captain Sifa Dena who knows every bounce on the layout said the course is in pristine condition but will test every club in the bag and extended an invite to all golf lovers, families, residents, visitors and sports enthusiasts to come out and experience the action. For the three days, we expect nothing short of high-quality golf and plenty of drama as these players battle it out for honors in one of the Coast’s most anticipated golfing events. The course is in excellent condition and the fairways remain green with the greens running true offering a consistent putting surface. As always in Malindi, the crosswinds coming in from the Indian Ocean add another layer of challenge to the way the course is played. Players will need to carefully judge their club selection, ball flight and positioning, because the wind can quickly turn a straightforward shot into a real test.
The course is ready, the competition is coming, and the Vasco Da Gama Cup is waiting to see whether the local players at MGCC will bring it home or whether the 2025 champion will successfully defend his crown, “said Dena.
He pointed out that beyond the competition, they want this tournament to showcase what makes Malindi such a special golfing and tourism destination.
“We invite golf lovers, families, residents, visitors and sports enthusiasts to come out and experience the action. Come and watch these elite amateurs demonstrate their skills and mental strength that make golf such a fascinating sport. We invite fans to walk with us. Come watch golf where Vasco Da Gama once walked. It will be competitive, respectful and full of coastal spirit, Come and watch these elite amateurs demonstrate their skills and mental strength that make golf such a fascinating sport, “said Dena.
He said beyond the competition, they want this tournament to showcase what makes Malindi such a special golfing and tourism destination.
“This tournament is not just another leg of the KAGC Series; it is our identity. We have invested in our fairways, our greens and our hospitality. We want to show the Country that Malindi can deliver a national championship with coastal warmth. From the airport to the beach hotels, everyone knows golf is coming home to Malindi and we promise them a memorable stay,” added the Captain.
With the field is packed by experienced players and exciting young talents, all looking to make their mark, the opening two days will see the elite amateurs battle it out for a place in Sunday’s final round, where the pressure really begins.
More than a tournament, it reflects a journey back to 1498, when Portuguese explorer Vasco Da Gama landed in Malindi, erected the coral pillar that still watches over the Indian Ocean and found a guide to India and that spirit of navigation is what the Cup celebrates.
The course is ready, the competition is coming and the Vasco Da Gama Cup is waiting to see whether the champion can successfully defend his crown.
And with the first tee shot at 7am on Friday and by sunset on Sunday, Malindi will have a new explorer to remember.
Three days. One championship. One Vasco Da Gama Cup.
ENDS.
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