Kibugu, Wafula secure Sunshine Tour, Sunshine Ladies Tour cards

Kenya’s Njoroge Kibugu and Naom Wafula have secured historic playing cards on the Sunshine Tour and Sunshine Ladies Tour after strong performances throughout the inaugural season of the Sunshine Development Tour - East Africa Swing.

Their achievements mark the first time Kenyan or East African golfers have earned full tour cards to major professional golf tours.

Njoroge secured his Sunshine Tour card directly by winning three Sunshine Development Tour events this season at Thika Greens Golf Resort, Nyali Golf Club and Vetlab Sports Club. His consistent run has placed him firmly at the top of the Tour standings and confirmed him as the first Kenyan and first East African to earn a full playing card on a global professional tour. For his stellar performance in the Tour, he has climbed 1,896 places on the Official World Golf Ranking from 3,508 before the start of the Tour to 1,612 currently – making him the highest-ranked East African in the world. 

Naom Wafula earned her card to the Sunshine Ladies Tour after an outstanding season where she made seven out of eight cuts on the Sunshine Development Tour. She is currently ranked eighteenth on the Order of Merit and is the highest ranked female player on the Tour. Her performances throughout the season have confirmed her status as one of the region’s rising professionals.

Speaking on the achievement, Sunshine Development Tour - East Africa Swing Promoter Charles Gacheru said this marks a turning point for golf in Kenya and the wider region:

“One hundred and twenty-five years after golf was introduced in this region, we launched the Sunshine Development Tour East Africa Swing in partnership with the Sunshine Tour of South Africa to not only create a series of events in Kenya and East Africa but to create a link to global golf. The Sunshine Development Tour has created that link. It is the only world-ranked tour in Kenya, and the only one that offers ranking points that opens the doors to major global tours and also count towards Olympic qualification,” he said. 

Gacheru added that Njoroge’s achievement sets a new benchmark for the region. “Njoroge Kibugu has secured a full Sunshine Tour card for 2026. This is a first for East African golf. He becomes the first East African and the first Kenyan in one hundred and twenty-five years to secure a full membership card to the Sunshine Tour. He has earned it purely on merit, through his performances on this tour. We expect him to flourish there and earn bigger world ranking points. He has now moved on to the main tour and will be playing against top professionals.” 

On Wafula, Gacheru said her consistency made the difference. “Naom has been one of Kenya’s top amateur women for a long time and since turning professional she has shown the discipline and commitment needed at this level. She has now earned full membership to the Sunshine Ladies Tour for next year. This is also a first for Kenya and East Africa and we are proud that she has come through this pathway,” he said.

Njoroge said earning the card was a major moment in his young career. “It means a lot to be the first Kenyan to secure a Sunshine Tour card. I am very grateful to the Sunshine Development Tour for giving us this opportunity and I am excited to showcase my talent at the next level. The tour has been very important because right now it is the only way to get to a global tour apart from the Kenya Open,” he said.

Kenya Ladies Golf Union Chairperson Rosemary Mkok congratulated Naom for her achievement and said it is a defining moment for the development of women’s golf in Kenya:

The East Africa Swing will conclude its season with two more tournaments in January 2026.