Serah Khanyereri (left) with her Zimbabwean caddie Panasha Mukumba, displays her trophy after winning the 2026 Mile High Women Open in Denver, USA, on May 31, 2026.
Kenya’s rising lady golfer Serah Khanyereri’s is going places.
Khanyereri, a member of Royal Nairobi Golf Club here in Kenya, and now based in the United States of America became the first Kenyan female professional player to win a pro-event, not just in the USA, but the world.
Playing in her third pro event, the 26-year-old Khanyereri carded rounds of 69 and 74, in Denver to win the 2026 Mile High Women Open presented by the Colorado Golf Association on May 31, which was her third tournament in the US ladies' professional circuit, and maiden victory.
“That was a great feeling winning my first pro event, and it has given me more encouragement and the energy to even work harder,’’ said Khanyereri.
Ongoing renovations at the Royal Nairobi Golf Club.
The Dagoretti Corner-born girl turned professional last November. There are only four professional lady golfers in Kenya, her, Naom Wafula, Joyce Wanjiru and Margaret Njok.
Khanyereri finished ninth in her first event in Jacksonville Florida where she posted rounds of 81 and 86, and third in Memphis early this year with scores of 77 and 71.
Her historic winning effort in Denver earned her a tidy winner’s cash prize of $4,250, (Sh548,250).
Khanyereri developed her golf at Rose Naliaka Golf Academy, now known as the Africa Golf Programme.
Her talent and dedication earned her an opportunity to study and compete in the United States, where she became one of the standout players on the women’s golf team at St. Thomas University.
During her collegiate career, she captured multiple tournament victories and established herself as one of the top golfers in the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) ranks.
Khanyereri, whose other hobbies include playing soccer, swimming, travelling, and listening to music, began her golfing career in 2012 under the tutelage of Kenya’s first-ever female professional golfer, the legendary Rose Naliaka, at her Naliaka Golf Academy.
“I first saw coach Rose when she came to Jamhuri Primary school to choose girls she believed would be interested in playing golf. It seemed Rose chose the taller girls and I believed I had not been chosen because I was much smaller and was not mature enough compared to the other girls,’’ said Khanyereri.
Golf journey
But golf stories so intrigued her that she snuck onto the academy training grounds to hang around. “I went to the driving range, borrowed a golf club from a student and started hitting golf balls. Coach Naliaka noticed me and decided to also teach me how to hold a golf club properly to hit the ball. I did get a chance to be a part of the academy and coach Naliaka allowed me to return the next weekend’’.
Little did Khanyereri know she was embarking on a journey that would take her to the United States of America, after a successful amateur career in Kenya that saw her clinch several club and national golf titles. “I loved the game so much that I advanced at a rapid pace. I became focused on golf, and I was able to get a membership at the historical Royal Nairobi Golf Club where I met many of my golf and life mentors. I later on got a scholarship to study and play in the US and everything changed thereafter,’’ added Khanyereri.
Some of her amateur victories are the Windsor Ladies Open, the Vet Lab Ladies Open and the Great Rift Valley Golf Resort Ladies Open titles in 2014, the Limuru Ladies Open (68 net) in 2015 and in 2016 the Royal Nairobi Ladies Open and the Kenya Ladies Golf Union Stroke Play Championship.
She won the Kenya Amateur Match Play Championship in 2017, the Kabete Ladies Open and Nakuru Ladies Open in 2019, and the Muthaiga Ladies Open in June 2024.
She also earned her place in the Kenya Ladies Golf team for international tournaments from 2015 to 2022.
Royal Nairobi's Serah Khanyereri follows the progress of her shot during the Kenya Ladies Golf Union (KLGU) Matchplay Championship at Sigona Golf Club on August 26, 2017.
Born in Nairobi on March 8, 1998, Khanyereri attended Jamhuri Primary School, and Upendo Secondary School, finishing in 2017, She left for the US in 2019 after receiving a First Tee Scholarship to attend Raritan Valley Community College in New Jersey.
A year later, she transferred St Thomas University, Miami Florida, finishing her undergraduate degree in sports business in 2024, and MBA in Sports Administration in 2025.
Before turning professional in 2025, Khanyereri did voluntary work with organizations such as Girl Power Golf Programme - as a golf coach, First Tee-Metropolitan and ForeLife Golf Organization also as a coach.
Some of her amateur exploits in the US are winning the Innisbrook Invitational where she fired gross 78, 87 and 74, the Webber Invitational with rounds of 78 and 71, and the Coastal Georgia Open on 75 and 72, all in 2020.
She clinched the top prize in the South Eastern University with rounds of 72,72 in September 20, 2021. Other amateur events Khanyereri has claimed are the 2022 Broward Women’s Amateur Championship where she fired rounds of 80 and 75, and the 2023 Ave Maria Gyrene Invitation with rounds 76, 72.
Her professional count has just began.
“It’s great to know of her achievement! I gave her and the others a rare opportunity and for those who work intelligently, they will be successful. We celebrate every success’’ said Naliaka.
Follow our WhatsApp channel for breaking news updates and more stories like this.
