The second edition of the NCBA Ruiru Open is scheduled from Friday, June 14 to Sunday, June 16, attracting 112 elite amateur players from Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, and Uganda.
Sponsored by NCBA, the three-day tournament will take place at the par-73 Ruiru Sports Club golf course, with a prize pool of Ksh 500,000 up for grabs.
Seven Kenyan lady golfers, including Kenya Junior Stroke Play Champion Bianca Ngecu, will compete for top honors.
Other confirmed participants are Joyce Wanjiru, Briana Ngecu, Diana Mbuba, Kelly Gachaga, Esther Chumo, and Sandra Kagana from Burundi.
Key players to watch include Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) series leader Elvis Muigua and Kenya Captain John Lejirmah.
Muigua, from Kiambu Golf Club, holds the top spot in the 2024 KAGC ranking with 346.1 points from eight tournaments.
He has won four titles this year: Sigona Bowl (January 26), Great Rift Valley Championship (February 9), Windsor Classic (March 1), and Winston Churchill Cup (April 5, 2024).
Lejirmah, from Kenya Railways Golf Club, is second in the KAGC series with 323.3 points from eight tournaments and has secured two titles: Trans Nzoia Open (April 24) and Ronald Marshal and Toby Gibson Cup (May 18).
Defending champion Adel Balala and reigning KAGC champion Michael Karanga will not participate this year. Karanga is currently in Ireland for the Amateur Championship, scheduled from June 17 to June 22.
Tournament Director and Vice Chairman of the Kenya Golf Union, Chris Kinuthia, expressed gratitude to NCBA for their unwavering support in nurturing golf talent across the country.
“We are grateful to NCBA for their continued support in nurturing golf talent across our country. Their commitment is truly commendable,” he said.
He also thanked Ruiru Sports Club for providing their prestigious course for the event, allowing elite players to showcase their skills.
The NCBA Ruiru Open is significant not only for the competition but also because it qualifies for World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points and contributes to the Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) ranking, reinforcing its importance in the golfing calendar.