The Kenyan coast is bracing for a golfing spectacle as the Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing brings its highly anticipated third and fourth legs to Nyali Golf and Country Club and Diamonds Leisure Beach & Golf Resort respectively.

This double-header, commencing on August 4th, promises not only thrilling competition but also a significant boost for regional golfers eyeing global recognition.

Each of the Coast legs will feature three rounds of play with a substantial prize purse of KES 2 million per event. More importantly, players will earn crucial Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points and World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points.

This underscores the tour’s vital role as the exclusive pathway for East African golfers to access international opportunities, including the coveted Olympic Games qualification.

The tournaments will draw a competitive field of professional and elite amateur male and female golfers from across East Africa, West Africa, and the Big Easy Tour from South Africa.

Charles Gacheru, Promoter of the Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing, expressed his enthusiasm for the coastal swing.

“We are excited to take the Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing to the Coast Region,” he stated. “Both Nyali and Leisure are top-rated championship golf courses, and playing at the Kenyan Coast provides players with a totally different experience and challenge.”

Gacheru emphasized the tour’s broader mission beyond prize money: “The Tour isn’t just about prize money, it is more importantly about offering players a clearly defined pathway to the global world of golf and this is the only Tour in East Africa that provides a structured and defined pathway to events such as the Olympic Games.”

Kenya’s golfing stalwarts, including Dismas Indiza, who currently leads the Order of Merit, Njoroge Kibugu, and John Lejirma, are expected to feature prominently. Gacheru is optimistic that their performance in these coastal events will propel them closer to breaking into the world’s top 1,000, a historic achievement for Kenyan golf. Regional talents like Rwanda’s Celestin Nsanzuwera, Uganda’s Ronald Rugumayo, Tanzania’s Nuru Molel, and Nigeria’s Sunday Abimbola will also be vying for glory.

The women’s field will be spearheaded by Vipingo Ridge’s Naom Wafula, who recently transitioned to professional ranks and is expected to be a strong contender. The Sunshine Development Tour’s consistent, high-calibre tournaments are proving instrumental in developing local and regional talent, offering them the platform and visibility needed to compete on the international stage.