-Notably absent this year in Kitale will be Tournament’s defending champion John Lejirma of Royal Nairobi Golf Club, opening up the field for a new titleholder to emerge.
MAARUFU MOHAMED-GOLFNEWSLINKS-DOUGLAS MWALE-IMG KENYA LIMITED.
The Golf Park golf course in Nairobi host the seventh leg of the ongoing 2025 NCBA Golf Series on Friday ,25thwhich will also double as the club’s Monthly Mug event for April with at least 100 players to this Kenya’s only Pay-and-Play Golf facility.
Players will be vying for coveted spots at the NCBA Golf Series Grand Finale, joining qualifiers from earlier events held at VetLab Sports Club, Nandi Bears Club, Malindi Golf Club, Kenya Railway Golf Club, Kiambu Golf Club, and most recently, Nakuru Golf Club.
During the sixth leg held at Nakuru Golf Club, Paul Muhia emerged as the overall gross winner, while Esther Karuga clinched the ladies’ gross title.
They were among six golfers who qualified from that leg, alongside the Division 2 Men’s and Ladies’ winners, the Overall Division 3 winner, and the Junior winner.
Meanwhile, all eyes will focus this weekend in the highly anticipated NCBA Trans Nzoia Championship from Friday to Sunday at the par 73 Kitale Golf Club’s challenging and the only 18-hole layout course in the Lake Victoria and Rift Valley region.
The tournament running for three days until Sunday is a flagship event that is part of the KAGC 2025 calendar where the championship continues to bolster Kenya’s stature in the international amateur golfing community.
A total of 58 golfers have confirmed participation in the tournament at the course that spans 6,900 yards and will be featuring prominent lady golfers among them Loise Ngina from the host club and Naomi Wafula of Vipingo Golf Ridge in Kiliif County.
Wafula confirmed yesterday saying, “I’m excited to be playing in the tournament here at Kitale. I’ve been preparing well both physically and mentally and I’m looking forward to giving it my best.”
Other top contenders expected to shine include Golf park’s Sammy Mulama who is also Member of Mombasa golf Club, Kenya Railway’s Isaack Makokha, Golf Park’s Josephat Rono, and John Kamais from Nakuru Golf Club.
Mulama who is the Tournament’s 2023 Champion and who last weekend was among the Mombasa Golf Team to win this year’s Tannahill Shied trophy at Royal Nairobi.
“I’m feeling good after we won the Tannahill, my swing is in good shape. I won Trans-nzoia two years ago and hoping to win it again God willing,” said Mulama.
Notably absent this year will be Tournament’s defending champion John Lejirma of Royal Nairobi Golf Club, opening up the field for a new titleholder to emerge.
Lejirma commonly known as ‘Samburu One’ is an elite amateur golfer who has won numerous titles including the 2025 NCBA Kisii Open where he beat other top contenders like Ndumberi Golf Club’s Elvis Muigua.
The golfer who is also the current National Golf Team Captain and the Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) series leader confirmed yesterday that he won’t be playing the Trans Nzoia Open this year.
“I gave it a lot of thought since the prize money didn’t quite make sense this time around especially considering the travel and accommodation costs. I’d end up spending almost half of what I’d win. I decided to stay back and focus on practice as I prepare for the Kiambu Open. Hope to come back stronger there, “noted Lejirma.
This tournament is part of the ongoing NCBA Golf Series in the Kenya Golf Union (KGU) calendar of events that continues to elevate the local golfing scene and strengthen Kenya’s position on the international amateur golf map.
The three-day event will feature an initial cut after two rounds, with the top 33 players (including ties) advancing to the final round.
With a prize fund of Ksh 174,000 up for grabs, the competition promises high-stakes action. The tournament is also part of the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) calendar, offering vital ranking points to participants.
As part of NCBA’s broader efforts to grow the game from the ground up, the event underscores the bank’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of Kenyan golfers.
NCBA Group Managing Director, John Gachora said, “We are proud to continue our commitment to golf development in Kenya by supporting events across all levels from elite amateur competitions like the Trans Nzoia Championship to club events such as our Monthly Mug events across various clubs. It’s about creating pathways for talent and making golf more accessible and competitive nationwide and we are very proud of the impact we are having on the golfing space in this region.”
KGU Tournament Director Chris Kinuthia said, “The tournament will adhere to the Rules of Golf as approved by R&A Rules Limited, as well as the Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) Local Rules and any additional local regulations set by the Tournament Committee.”
Kinuthia also highlighted the role of NCBA Bank in shaping the local golf scene saying NCBA’s sponsorship has been transformative and has significantly raised the standard of competition and given emerging players the chance to gain critical experience and exposure, both locally and on the global stage.
ENDS.
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