KAGC race heads to Eldoret as NCBA Golf Series nears grand finale

Running from Friday to Sunday (November 8), the tournament will feature a competitive field of established players and KAGC Series champions, all seeking to claim the coveted Manchester Salver trophy and strengthen their positions in the season standings.

The championship will be played over 54 holes of stroke play, with a cut after the second round allowing the top 33 players and ties to advance to the final round. The field is led by Rwanda’s Jean D’Amour Hitayezu, alongside Felix Dusabe, Rafael Leming’ani, Elvis Muigua, Josphat Rono, and John Kamaisi.

Other notable contenders include KAGC Series champions Isaac Makokha, Eugene Wafula, Kamoza Longwe, Amos Odongo, Elly Limo and Geoffrey Kariuki. Local interest will also be high, with Eldoret Club players looking to make the most of their home-course advantage. The tournament will feature nine female golfers, including Mercy Nyanchama, Faith Chemutai, Esther Chumo, Gracemary Karira and Doris Mideva.

The Manchester Salver follows last weekend’s NCBA Golf Park Open, where 16-year-old Shashwat Harish of Muthaiga Golf Club secured his maiden KAGC title after carding 11-under-par 199 over three rounds. Harish finished two strokes ahead of John Kamaisi, with Rwanda’s Jean D’Amour Hitayezu taking third place on 207, setting up another competitive contest as the KAGC season progresses.

Meanwhile, the NCBA Golf Series heads to Great Rift Valley Golf Resort for its penultimate leg, where more than 200 golfers are expected to take part as the series moves closer to its 2026 Grand Finale. The event is part of a season that has attracted more than 3,000 golfers across the country, reflecting the continued growth and reach of the series.

The Grand Finale is scheduled for 28 November at Karen Country Club, where the season’s leading golfers will be recognised across the overall, men’s, ladies’ and junior categories, including the respective runners-up in the men’s and ladies’ competitions.

The latest NCBA Golf Series qualifier, held at Nakuru Golf Club, saw Peter Gathogo and Nyambura Muigai claim the men’s and ladies’ overall titles respectively, following a competitive day that attracted more than 200 golfers.

Muigai, playing off handicap 19, carded 88 points to secure the overall ladies’ title, while Gathogo claimed the men’s title with 77 points off handicap 6. Mackton Wekhomba finished second in the men’s category with 82 points, followed by Nanu Hassanali on 83 points. Susan Gichuki was the ladies’ runner-up with 92 points off handicap 17.

In the other categories, Mikael Kihara won the junior title with 77 points, while Simon Kuria claimed the Division Two men’s net title with 39 points. Esther Thuku won the Division Two ladies’ net category with 35 points, and Lawrence Terer took the Division Three net title with 42 points.

Commenting on the two tournaments, NCBA Group Managing Director John Gachora said: “The strong participation in the NCBA Golf Series and the continued competitiveness of the KAGC reflect the growing interest in golf across the region. Through our support of both platforms, we remain committed to creating opportunities for golfers to develop their game, compete, and realizee their potential. This is at the heart of our Banking on Belief philosophy and our commitment to the growth of the sport.”

Kenya Golf Union Vice Chairman Jonathan Marucha said the Manchester Salver remains an important fixture in the amateur golf calendar, bringing together players from different clubs and backgrounds to compete at a high level. He noted that the strength and diversity of this year’s field, including the participation of women golfers, reflects the continued development of the game.