Muthaiga's Sandhu targets back-to-back majors at Limuru event

During Sunday’s final round of the Kenya Amateur Stroke Play Championship at Royal Nairobi Golf Club, Sandhu, aged 45, beat Adel Taufiq Balala of Nyali Golf and Country Club in a three-hole play-off to retain his title.

This victory also made Sandhu the first Kenyan golfer to secure a place in next year’s Magical Kenya Open,  planned for Karen Country Club.

Over 100 golfers had registered for this weekend’s tournament, but the Kenya Golf Union reduced the field on handicap basis to those playing off handicap 3.1 and better.

The trophy is up for grabs this year as defending champion Michael Karanga, of Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club, has turned professional and is therefore unable to defend his title.

Last year, at Sigona Golf Club, Karanga, who had previously won the Match Play trophy in 2023 before losing it to Uganda’s Michael Alunga in 2024, beat South Africa’s Prenay Kapur in the final to reclaim the title. Kapur, from Royal Johannesburg Golf Club, is back to try his luck once again.

During Sunday’s Kenya Amateur Stroke Play Championship, Kapur carded nine over par 297 to finish in eighth position.

As well as Kapur, Sandhu, and Balala, the Limuru event has attracted John Kamaisi from Nakuru. Kamaisi led the Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) series until Sandhu won the Limuru Open two weeks ago.

That victory helped Sandhu regain the lead for the prestigious ‘Golfer of the Year’ title, which also qualifies the winner for the Magical Kenya Open.

Other top East Africa golfers will take part in the championship, including Rwanda’s Jean D’Amour Hitayezu and Zambia’s Gilbert Chalwe. Unlike conventional stroke play, the Match Play Championship pits golfers directly against each other. Each hole is a separate contest and  momentum can change in an instant. This format rewards tactical decision-making, resilience, and composure under pressure, making it one of the most challenging in amateur golf.

The tournament begins with all players competing in a 36-hole stroke play qualifier. Only the top 32 players will progress to the knockout stages, where each match is a winner-takes-all contest.

Tomorrow morning, the top 32 players from the stroke play round will compete against each other, with the top 16 returning to the course in the afternoon to compete for the quarter-final places on Saturday morning. The 36-hole final and the third- and fourth-place play-off are set for Sunday morning and afternoon.

The challenging Limuru Country Club course is expected to present a tough challenge throughout the week. Renowned for its narrow fairways, undulating greens, and strategic layout, the course demands precision and patience, and its closing stretch has produced some of the championship’s most memorable finishes.

Kenya Golf Union chairman Brian Akun believes that the championship will once again showcase the highest standards of amateur golf.

“The Kenya Amateur Match Play Championship remains one of the premier events on our calendar and continues to attract the region’s finest amateur golfers. Match play is a unique format that rewards courage, strategy, and mental resilience, ensuring an exciting competition for players and spectators alike. We are delighted to welcome such a strong field as we conclude another successful Kenya Swing,” he said.

Beyond the championship trophy, players will compete for valuable World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points and prize money.

The eventual champion will also earn a place in the 2027 Magical Kenya Open, provided they meet the Kenya Golf Union and DP World Tour’s amateur entry requirements.

With an exceptional line-up of players, intriguing storylines, and one of the most challenging formats in amateur golf, the 104th NCBA Kenya Amateur Match Play Championship promises to deliver four days of world-class competition as the Kenya Swing reaches its climax.