After missing out on last weekend’s NCBA Tea Fields Trophy at Kericho Golf Club, Kenya’s top amateur golfer, Michael Karanga, returns to compete in the NCBA Manchester Salver in Eldoret.
Karanga, who has won six of the 13 tournaments he has played in this year’s Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) series, is eyeing his seventh title.
His impressive season so far includes victories at the NCBA Kenya Railways Invitational, NCBA Coronation Cup, NCBA Limuru Open, NCBA Coast Open Barry Cup, the Karen Challenge, and the Malindi Open Vasco da Gama Cup.
Representing Kiambu Golf Club, Karanga currently leads the 2024 KAGC standings with 693 points and is the defending champion of the NCBA Manchester Salver, which he won last year.
“I’m ready to defend my title at Eldoret. It has a nice course, and I like it,” Karanga told Golf Score Kenya.
He noted that a win this weekend would improve his chances of securing the overall KAGC 2024 title.
“I will be many points ahead of the second person, who is Lejirma,” he said.
Lejirma, the current Team Kenya captain, is currently in Zimbabwe alongside three other golfers—Elvis Muigua, Josphat Rono, and Krish Beiju—representing Kenya at the All Africa Golf Championship.
With five trophies this season, Lejirma’s victories include the NCBA Gold Fields Trophy at Kakamega Golf Club, NCBA Ruiru Open, Ronald Marshal and Toby Gibson Cup at Njoro Golf Club, and the Trans Nzoia Open.
He sits second in the 2024 KAGC standings with 646 points.
This year’s NCBA Manchester Salver has drawn 78 elite golfers, including top contenders like local player Ken Serem, Muthaiga’s Daniel Kiragu, and Golf Park’s Sammy Mulama, who finished third in last weekend’s Kericho event.
Three women are also set to compete: Eldoret Club Chairperson Esther Chumo, Faith Chemutai from Nandi Bears, and Sarah Nyareru from Karen Country Club.
With NCBA’s sponsorship, the event offers a prize fund of Sh400,000, with the winner set to receive Sh92,000.
Kenya Golf Union (KGU) Vice Chairman Chris Kinuthia praised NCBA’s sponsorship over the past two years, citing its significant impact on Kenyan golf.
“We’re seeing a regional expansion in the KAGC tournaments, now attracting players from Uganda and Rwanda. Just last weekend, a Ugandan won the Kericho tournament,” Kinuthia said.
Uganda’s Titus Okwong secured his first KAGC title in Kericho with a cumulative score of 225, finishing +9 over par across three challenging rounds.
Kinuthia added that this year’s KAGC structure has helped more Kenyan players gain World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points, creating greater opportunities.
“We now have more Kenyans ranked in WAGR. Event organization has improved, and, most importantly, players are starting to earn a living from golf,” he said.