Top East African Lady golfers gear up for Ladies Coast Open at Malindi Course

KLGU Coast Representative Teresia Odoo. [Maarufu Mohamed, Standard]

An estimated 120 top cream of finest Lady Golfers drawn from the East African region and beyond are set to display their skills and talents in this year’s week-long Ladies Coast Open Golf Tournament kicking off at Malindi Golf and Country Club Course in Kilifi County on Monday.

This is one of the ongoing legs in the ongoing Kenya Ladies Golf Union (KLGU) Calendar of events organized under the umbrella of the Kenya Ladies Golf Union (KLGU) with the support of the Union’s KLGU Coast representative Teresia Odoo.

The 18 holes tourney kicks off at 6.30 am with the team flight of Tanzania’s Shazirati Myombe, Home Club’s Kate Mwikali, and Ruiru’s Pauline Mungai while the last team at 12.22 Pm will be that off Ruiru’s Jane Kanari, Kitale’s Violet Otieno, Golf Park’s Wachuka Kebuchi and Thika’s Alice Dan-Thika.

The KLGU Coast Representative Terry Odoo of Nyali Golf and Country Club will be battling with Martha Babirye from Uganda and Tanzania’s senior Veteran Lady Golfer Neema Olomi from 6.46 am.

Malindi based Locals to fight off the guests are Kate Mwikali, Zipporah Gitonga, Luigina Bernini, Silvana Franciolli, Maria Giada, Eunice Kamau, Agnese Partesi, Susan Waithaka, Reila Islam, Carla Ziletti, Franca Gorini and Nancy Gatwiri.

Club Lady Captain Hamida Chidagaya said the course is in good condition and pleased to have support from New KCC, Bandari Sacco, Protea Immobiliare Ltd, Equity bank and Absa Ltd.

“We are looking forward to a good day, a memorable experience and expect a brilliant event experience to all golfers and guests,” said Hamida.

According to the Calendar, after Malindi, the ladies move to Vipingo Baobab Ridge course on Tuesday,6th, August before taking a rest on Wednesday,7th, August.

They will then cross the Likoni ferry in Mombasa County  to Kwale County to play at Diamonds Leisure Golf Club course on Thursday, 8th August and come to Mombasa County to battle with the strong Indian Ocean winds at the Sea-link Course on Friday, 9th, August before taking a final 36 holes rounds at the Nyali Golf and Country Club Course on Saturday 10th, August.

KLGU Coast Representative Teresia Odoo said the events being held around all the sunny Coastal Golf Clubs has received some  support from Corporates and friends of the Clubs Lady Captains Hamida Chidagaya of Malindi, Carol Mokaya of Diamond Leisure Club, Fiona Mbandi of Mombasa Golf Club and Mary Mariga of Nyali Golf and Country Club.

“We as Coastals are delighted to host this event being graced by the finest lady golfers in the Country and beyond as we strive to push the sport beyond the gender barriers to attract more lady golfers to the sport. It will prove a significant milestone in the history of the sport in Kenya and work to motivate the next generation of female golfers in the Country,” said Teresia.

Teresia said the week-long tournament has attracted participants from around the Country and the East African region at large, with participants coming from Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda and will be played in all the five Kenya Coastal Golf Clubs namely Malindi, Vipingo, Diamonds Leisure, Mombasa and Nyali Golf and Country Club from Monday 5th to Saturday 10th August.

“It will also showcase Kenya as a unique Golfing and Tourism destination as well as elevate the Country as an important player on the World’s stage, not just in terms of Golf but Sports in general, “added Teresia.

The event’s last year leaders are Malindi winner Emma Pennington of Nakuru, Vipingo winner Joyce Wanjiru of Kiambu, Diamond Leisure Lodge Trophy winner Mwongeli Nzioka of Limuru, Mombasa winner Martha Babirye of Uganda and Tanzania’s Neema Olomi who was the winner at Nyali Tourney.

But they may expect tough challenges against Kenya’s finest and top leading Ladies among them Golf park’s Margaret Njoki, Nyali’s Allysa Jamal,Jayne Githere, Mary Kandu,Mombasa’s Orpha Wamaitha,Glady’s Kasi and Kerichos’ Janet Wasike.

Other are Vipingo’s Jacky Walter,Tatiana Genevieve, Eldoret’s Esther Chumo ,Golf Park’s Nancy Wanjiru and Kenya’s Legendary Rose Naliaka  of Nyali who reverted to playing as Amateur after recording history for being the first Lady Golfer in the Country to turn Professional some years ago.

Uganda’s Martha will also be expected to defending the Coast series overall gross title after grabbing the lead with a combined score of 478 gross accumulated in all the five events at Leisure Lodge, Mombasa, Nyali, Malindi, Vipingo Ridge and Kenya Navy Golf Club’s Lady golfer Grace Kwamboka will defend the Nett category after carrying it year with a combined total score of 439 nett.

LADIES COAST OPEN 2024 CALENDAR

Malindi Country Club -Monday,5th, August (18 holes);

Vipingo Baobab Ridge-Tuesday,6th, August (18 holes);

Rest day……………………. -Wednesday,7th, August;

Diamonds Leisure Golf-Thursday, 8th August (18 holes);

Sea-link Mombasa……. -Friday, 9th, August (18 holes);

Nyali Golf and Country Club-Saturday 10th, August (36 holes);