All set Kabete Open, more golfers eye NCBA Golf Series grand finale at Windsor

The NCBA Kabete Open is scheduled to take place this weekend from July 18 to 20, at Vet Lab Sports Club, marking the tee-off for this year’s highly anticipated Kenya Swing Tournaments.

Adel Balala returns to defend the title and will be looking for his fourth win in the competition, having triumphed in 2021, 2022, and 2024.

The event has drawn 90 top players from across the world vying for critical World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) and Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) points, including 80 from Kenya, two each from Rwanda, Mauritius, and Austria, and one each from Zambia, South Africa, and Burundi.

Defending champion and three-time winner of the event, Balala, is among the top names on the list alongside KAGC Championship leader John Lejirma, Michael Karanga and home player Ebill Omolo.

Teenage sensation Kanana Muthomi is among the ladies golfers alongside Bianca Ngecu, Joyce Wanjiru, Mercy Nyanchama, and Kellie Gachaga among others.

Niyonkuru Alain (Rwanda), Pranay Kapur (South Africa), and Gilbert Chalwe (Rwanda) lead the contingent of players coming in from other countries,

The NCBA Kabete Open is the first of the three-part Kenya Swing series that will usher in the Kenya Amateur Matchplay Championship next week at the Sigona Golf Club and the final part of the series, Kenya Amateur Strokeplay Championship, at the end of the month, at Vet Lab Sports Club.

The Kenya Swing's back-to-back format has been strategically developed to attract international talent, offering continuous competitive play and showcasing Kenya's golfing excellence on a continental stage. Local players, sharing fairways with top regional golfers, gain valuable exposure and experience.

All players will play two rounds, after which the top 33 and ties advance to the final round. The tournament features a KSh 500,000 prize purse, with the winner taking home KSh 115,000.

“We are deeply grateful to the players for their commitment and continued support of the NCBA KAGC Series. Their dedication truly elevates the standards of amateur golf in the region. We also extend our sincere thanks to Vet Lab Sports Club for graciously availing the course for both the NCBA Kabete Open and the Strokeplay Championship.

“This platform allows our players to shine and showcase their talent. And of course, we thank NCBA Bank for their unwavering sponsorship throughout the series—their partnership is a cornerstone of our success.”

Elsewhere, more than 100 golfers are expected to take to the Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club course this Saturday July 19 as the NCBA Golf Series continues with the club’s Monthly Mug where more golfers stand to book their spots for the NCBA Grand Series set for November this year.

Last weekend, four more golfers booked their slots for the NCBA Golf Series Grand Finale following their triumphs during the Eldoret Golf Club qualifying event held at the club.

Dennis Rono carded an impressive round of 64 to emerge the overall winner and lead Shadrack Ngetich and Jedidah Keitany and Jonathan Barorot in qualifying for the main event.

Ngetich (handicap 6) and Keitany (handicap 21) emerged the men and lady winners in that order after banking 66 and 75 points respectively, as Barorot carded an impressive 70 playing off handicap 17 to emerge the Junior winner.