The stage is set for a weekend of intense golfing showdowns as the NCBA Coronation Cup & Bendor Trophy 2025 tees off tomorrow, Friday, May 30, at the Nakuru Golf Club.
The tournament, which runs through to Sunday, June 1, marks a critical stop in the Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) series — and the pressure is on.
A field of 110 of the country’s top amateur golfers will go head-to-head in the Coronation Category (gross scores), while another 100 players will battle it out in the Bendor Category (net scores).
The Coronation Cup will be contested over 54 holes in a stroke play format, while the Bendor Trophy will be played over 36 holes across Saturday and Sunday.
Each player will be eyeing more than just victory; they’ll be out to outshine their peers in what promises to be a fiercely competitive tournament.
The event promises captivating duels, especially with KAGC leader John Lejirma, defending champion Michael Karanga, and rising star Elvis Muigua all in the field.
Home favourite John Kamaisi will also be looking to turn home course advantage into a headline-grabbing performance.
Lejirma, who has competed in six of the 10 KAGC events played so far this year, is currently leading the standings with 895 points — 162 points ahead of Karanga.
He has been in dazzling form through the first half of the season, recording three wins, two third-place finishes, and a runner-up result in just six appearances.
Karanga has also shown flashes of brilliance with two strong wins this season — at the Sigona Bowl and Kiambu Open — and a runner-up finish at the NCBA Winston Churchill event.
At least nine elite lady golfers, including Joyce Wanjiru, Kellie Gachaga, and Naomi Wafula, are also expected to bring their A-game in a bid to steal the spotlight in Nakuru.
Adding to the competitive mix are four players from Rwanda and two from Great Britain, all keen to shake up the leaderboard and make their mark.
Nakuru Golf Club has confirmed that the course is in pristine condition, setting the stage for a high-stakes weekend of rivalry, resilience, and remarkable golf.
NCBA Group Managing Director John Gachora expressed enthusiasm ahead of the tournament, emphasizing the broader impact of such events.
“We are delighted to support the Coronation Cup and Bendor Trophy as part of our enduring commitment to growing golf in Kenya. We anticipate a weekend of fierce competition, exceptional talent, and strong connections with our stakeholders from Nakuru and beyond,” he said.
The NCBA Coronation Cup, part of the Kenya Golf Union’s national elite amateur series, also contributes to the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR), further raising the stakes and attracting top regional talent.
