The prestigious 2024 KCB East Africa Golf Tour is making a notable stop in Tanzania this Saturday, as Lugalo Golf Club in Dar es Salaam welcomes over 150 top amateur golfers. This event marks a significant moment in the regional golf calendar, with the 18-hole course set to challenge and showcase the skills of the continent’s finest players.
Commencing at 7:00 a.m., the tournament promises to be a thrilling affair as golfers vie for crucial points to secure their spots in the tour’s grand finale on December 6, 2024. The venue for the grand finale is yet to be confirmed, adding an element of anticipation to the culmination of this year’s series.
Major Japeth Masai, the captain of Lugalo Golf Club, expressed his enthusiasm for hosting this year’s event. “We are excited to be part of the 2024 KCB East Africa Golf Tour. Last year, we did not field a tournament, but this year, we are part of the regional series that has elevated the sport to unimaginable heights,” said Masai. He praised KCB for its role in promoting golf across the region and emphasized the importance of fostering a robust golfing culture in East Africa. “I welcome golfers to Dar es Salaam to enjoy a beautifully well-kept course. We expect a huge turnout this weekend,” he added.
The KCB East Africa Golf Tour, an initiative by Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), aims to enhance the growth and accessibility of golf across East Africa. This year’s tour has already seen successful tournaments in Burundi, with Tanzania being the second country to host an event. Uganda and Rwanda are also set to join the tour before the year concludes.
Rosalind Gichuru, KCB Group Director of Marketing and Communications, highlighted the tour’s impact. “Our corporate citizenship agenda places people at the heart of what we do as a brand. I am extremely delighted with our reach so far. As it stands, we have interacted with 1,500 participants and over 1,000 juniors from the clinics that ran concurrently with the series. Our aim is to bolster the sport and to make it accessible for all,” Gichuru said.
The Kenyan edition of the tour has been equally dynamic, traveling to various counties including Mombasa, Nairobi, Kakamega, Nyeri, Uasin Gishu, Kericho, Kiambu, and Nakuru. This year, KCB aims to expand its outreach, targeting 3,000 participants and 1,500 juniors, a significant increase from last year’s figures.
The most recent additions to the grand finale lineup include notable golfers such as Philip Wahome, Mike Njogu, Zack Koech, Steve Lokonyo, Evelyn Otsuyala, Koki Muia, Epimach Maritim, and Cyllus Onyango, who qualified following the 12th leg of the tour at the Karen Country Club last weekend.
Following the Tanzanian leg, the KCB East Africa Golf Tour will proceed to Nyanza Golf Club on August 17, 2024, continuing its mission to elevate the sport and provide a platform for regional talent to shine.
As golfers prepare for the Lugalo Golf Club tournament, anticipation is high for what promises to be a remarkable showcase of skill and sportsmanship. With the support of KCB and the dedication of golf enthusiasts across East Africa, the tour continues to make significant strides in promoting the sport and building a vibrant golfing community in the region.
