-The Qualifying School attracted 55 players from across African countries and beyond, marking a strong start to the 2026/27 Sunshine Development Tour season and underscoring the growing appeal of the Tour as a pathway for emerging talent.
-Attention now set for the West Africa edition, set for April 13th to 15th at Lakowe Lakes Golf Estate in Lagos, Nigeria, where another crop of players will battle for Sunshine Development Tour status.
-While local focus will then shift to the opening tournament of the 2026/27 season at Thika Sports Club from April 19th to 21st, as the race officially begins for Order of Merit points, World ranking opportunities, and progression to the Sunshine Tour.
MAARUFU MOHAMED-GOLFNEWSLINKS.
Kenyan Amateur player Ali Wasim emerged victorious at the Sunshine Development Tour-East Africa Swing Qualifying School after holding his nerve in a tense final round at Limuru Country Club on Friday.
Wasim, who had set the pace in the opening two rounds, carded a composed level-par 72 gross in the final round to finish the tournament at level-par 288 gross, securing top spot on the leaderboard and capping off an impressive week at the par-72 course.
His final round featured birdies on the 6th, 9th, 15th and 17th holes, putting him in firm control heading into the closing stretch.
A dramatic double-bogey on the 18th briefly threatened to undo his hard work, but Wasim held on to seal a breakthrough victory and earn his place on the Sunshine Development Tour for the 2026/27 season.
“It feels amazing to come through and win this. It’s been a tough week with a lot of pressure, but I’m proud of how I handled myself. I stayed patient throughout the tournament and trusted my game, even when things got difficult. The finish was a bit nervy, especially on the last hole, but that’s golf. The most important thing is that I stayed calm enough to get the job done. This means a lot to me because it’s a big step forward in my journey, and I’m excited for what lies ahead on the Tour,” said Wasim.
Wasim’s victory came after he overcame a third-round setback that saw Limuru’s John Karichu briefly take over at the top of the leaderboard, setting up a tense final-day battle.
Karichu ultimately finished tied for second alongside American pro Andrew Procter at 2-over par 290 gross.
Karichu, playing on home turf, battled hard throughout the final round but could only manage a single birdie on the 14th as he narrowly missed out on top spot.
“Of course, I would have loved to win, especially playing at home, but overall I’m proud of how I competed this week. I stayed in the mix, gave myself a chance, and that’s all you can ask for. There are a lot of positives to take from this. My game felt solid, and this gives me confidence heading into the Tour season,” said Karichu.
Procter closed strongly with a composed final round that featured birdies on the 3rd, 6th, 15th and 16th holes, underlining his consistency across the week.
“It’s been a really enjoyable week. The course was in great condition, and the competition was strong, which makes a finish like this satisfying. This Tour is a great platform. You can already see the level of talent here, and I’m looking forward to building on this performance during the season, “noted Procter.
Elite amateur Sammy Mulama finished fourth on 8-over par 296 gross, while Sujan Shah, William Odeck and Isaac Wanyeche shared fifth place on 13-over par 301 gross.
The Qualifying School attracted 55 players from across African countries and beyond, marking a strong start to the 2026/27 Sunshine Development Tour season and underscoring the growing appeal of the Tour as a pathway for emerging talent.
With the East Africa Qualifying School now concluded, attention turns to the West Africa edition, set for April 13-15 at Lakowe Lakes Golf Estate in Lagos, Nigeria, where another crop of players will battle for Sunshine Development Tour status.
The focus will then shift to the opening tournament of the 2026/27 season at Thika Sports Club from April 19th to 21st, as the race officially begins for Order of Merit points, world ranking opportunities, and progression to the Sunshine Tour.
ENDS.
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