Sixth leg of the Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing tees off today at Royal Nairobi Golf Club

Kenya’s professional golfer, Naomi Wafula,  at the Royal Nairobi Golf Club during the ProAm event of the Sunshine Development Tour - East Africa Swing Johnnie Walker Classic event on Saturday/HANDOUT

A strong field of 82 professional and elite amateur golfers from Africa will battle for a share of the Sh2million prize purse and world ranking points. 

The event marks the first time the Sunshine Development Tour is being staged at Royal Nairobi Golf Club, one of the oldest and most prestigious courses in the region.

On Saturday, the club hosted a ProAm as part of the build-up. A total of 186 players, including 34 professionals and 152 amateurs, featured in the ProAm. 

The curtain-raiser gave amateur golfers the unique opportunity to play alongside some of the region’s top professionals.

The day belonged to Handicap 31 Rose Wanjiru, who put in a composed and consistent performance to emerge as the overall winner with 42 points.

Fred Kithinzi, playing off handicap 19, was in fine form as well, taking home the men’s title with 40 points, finishing ahead of handicap 13 Lawrence Njue, who finished as the men’s runner-up after carding 38 points.

Handicap 31 Betty Maina produced an impressive round to claim the ladies’ crown with 40 points, beating Jinnel Mwangi, who took the ladies’ runner-up position with 39 points.

Isiah Masinde and Liqing Yang won the First and Second Nine Challenges, respectively. The long-hitting Fred Mugambi won the men’s longest drive, while professional golfer Naom Wafula claimed the ladies’ longest drive honours. 

Kennedy Gachanja showed great precision to take the nearest-to-the-pin prize.

In the team’s category, the combination of Pro Kibirige Marvin, Kevin Juma, Patrick Musimba, and Felix Midikira took top honours with an impressive 84 points, edging out Pro Philip Kasozi’s team of Philemon Kipkemoi, Fred Mugambi, and Lesley Mugambi, who posted 81 points.

Finishing third with the same total were Pro Celestin Nsanzuwera, Michael Mutiga, Victor Kyalo, and Charles Gacheru, whose steady teamwork and consistency rounded off the podium places.

Tournament Charles Gacheru, Promoter of the Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing, said the Pro-Am provided a unique opportunity for amateur golfers to share the fairways with top professionals from across Africa

“Today’s Johnnie Walker Classic Royal Pro-Am has been an exciting prelude to the main tournament of the sixth leg of the Sunshine Development Tour East Africa Swing that tees off on Monday to Wednesday next week,” remarked Gacheru. 

He added: “Since our launch earlier this year, we’ve hosted successful events in Thika Greens, Ruiru, Nyali, Diani, and Kigali, and now we’re proud to bring the sixth leg to Royal Nairobi Golf Club.”

The Tour provides a clear pathway for our golfers, both professional and elite amateurs, to earn Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) and World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points, helping them transition to higher-tier tours such as the Sunshine Tour and eventually the global stage.

The Royal event has received significant backing from Johnnie Walker, which holds the title naming rights for this leg, and from Vivo Energy Kenya, the official sponsor of the Royal tournament.

The Johnnie Walker Classic officially tees off on Monday, featuring a talented field of 82 golfers from Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Nigeria, Burundi, and South Africa.

Among those expected to challenge for the title are Celestin Nsanzuwera (Rwanda), current leader of the SDT–EAS Order of Merit with 789 points and recent winner of the Kigali leg; Njoroge Kibugu and Dismas Indiza from Kenya; Visitor Mapwanya from Zimbabwe; Adam Breen and Haydn Porteous from South Africa; and Phillip Kasozi from Uganda.

The women’s field also promises excitement, with Naom Wafula, Angel Eaton, Margaret Njoki, Ashley Awuor, and Kellie Gachaga among those expected to feature, a reflection of the Tour’s growing commitment to inclusivity and women’s participation in professional golf.

The 54-hole event will see the top 30 players and ties make the cut after the second round.