The fourth edition of Magical Kenya Ladies Open (MKLO) will kick off at the 18-hole Baobab Course in Vipingo Ridge, Kilifi County from February 8–11 this year.
Beyond the lush greens, wildlife and breathtaking landscapes at Vipingo Ridge, the 108 players from around the globe will be battling for a staggering €300,000 (Sh52 million) in prize money.
As in the previous two editions (2022 and 2023), the Magical Kenya Ladies Open, the only women’s professional golf tournament in East Africa will serve as the season-opener for the 2024 Ladies European Tour (LET) calendar.
In 2023, Aditi Ashok from India secured her victory with a remarkable nine-shot lead.
This year, the tournament has attracted top talent from the Ladies European Tour (LET), including rookies, past champions, and emerging stars.
Kenya’s top amateur golfer, Naomi Wafula, is expected to lead the Kenyan team.
Other notable participants who have already signed up for the tournament are; German Alexandra Försterling who won the 2023 VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open and the 2023 Mallorca Ladies Open.
The 2023 Amundi German Masters champion Kristýna Napoleaová from the Czech Republic, 2023 MKLO runner-up Alice Hewson from England, third-place finisher April Angurasaranee from Thailand and last year’s hole-in-one sensation, Swedish Lisa Pettersson are also expected to compete.
U.COM Event Managing Director Dirk Glittenberg expressed enthusiasm and highlighted the expected high levels of competition fueled by the exceptional talents during the tournament.
“We’re thrilled about the return of the tournament, and the heightened level of competition is truly promising, considering the exceptional talents it attracts,” said Glittenberg.
With an expanded field size of 108 golfers, up from 96 in the previous edition, the event organisers anticipate this year will witness outstanding competition, building on the high standards set last year.
Vipingo Ridge Founder Alastair Cavenagh said they are delighted to be hosting the MKLO for the 4th year.
“The event grows in stature with every year and serves to promote ladies’ golf in Kenya encouraging junior players from diverse backgrounds to take up the sport. We hope to see a Kenyan player on the tour permanently before too long,” he said.
The event will be broadcast globally, allowing fans worldwide to witness top-level golf. Broadcast details will be announced in the coming weeks.
The Ladies European Tour (LET) is set for another historic year in 2024, featuring 31 events spanning 20 countries.
The highlights will include the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the Solheim Cup in Gainesville, Virginia, and the AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews, the final qualification event for the European Solheim Cup team.
Following the Magical Kenya Ladies Open (MKLO), the series will continue its journey, making stops in Saudi Arabia before heading to Morocco for the prestigious Lalla Meryem Cup.
