Mombasa Prepares for 105th Barry Cup as KAGC Series Heats Up, Eldoret to Host NCBA Monthly Mug
The Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) Series continues this weekend at Mombasa Golf Club, as the historic 105th NCBA Coast Open known as the Barry Cup gets underway from Friday, July 11 to Sunday, July 13.
The three-day competition has attracted 65 of Kenya’s top amateur golfers. A prize pool of KES 400,000 is up for grabs, with the overall winner set to receive KES 86,800. The tournament is one of the longest-standing fixtures on Kenya’s golfing calendar and is a key leg in the KAGC Series.
Championship leader John Lejirma, who currently tops the standings with 2,000 points after winning five consecutive events, will not participate in Mombasa. His absence opens the door for third-placed Elvis Muigua to reduce the gap on second-placed Michael Karanga.
Golfers from the Coast region will look to make a strong showing on home turf. Nyali Golf & Country Club players Andrew Wahome, Adel Balala, William Odek, and Mary Kandu, along with Naomi Wafula from Vipingo Ridge, are among the standout local names expected to compete.
The Kenya Golf Union has appointed Bernard Mwaura and Peter Macharia as official referees for the event. They will oversee the competition in adherence to rules established by The R&A and KGU guidelines.
NCBA Group Managing Director John Gachora emphasized the company’s continued support for amateur golf in Kenya. “We are happy to be at Mombasa this weekend for this historic event. Our commitment is to support the entire cycle of golf development, and this includes elite amateurs through the KAGC Series,” Gachora said.
Meanwhile, over 100 players are expected at Eldoret Golf Club on Saturday, July 12, for the club’s Monthly Mug. This event forms part of the 2025 NCBA Golf Series, giving participants a chance to qualify for the Grand Finale in November.
Last weekend, Sigona Golf Club hosted the 16th qualifying round of the NCBA Series, where 260 players battled for slots in the finale. Sandeep Matharu and Zipporah Gichigi emerged as the top performers in the gross categories.
Matharu, playing off a handicap of 2, shot an even-par 72 to claim the Overall Gross Winner (Men) title. Gichigi, with a handicap of 7, led the women’s category with a gross score of 86.
In Division One, Saahil Shah (handicap 10) finished first with 40 stableford points. Milan Varsani (handicap 18) took Division Two with 42 points, while Jane Njau (handicap 14) led the women’s side with 33 points. The best score of the day came from Division Three winner Bharat Lakhani, who carded 43 points.
All six golfers earned qualification for the NCBA Series Grand Finale.
This weekend’s twin events in Mombasa and Eldoret mark a key moment in the mid-season stretch of Kenyan amateur golf, as players push to accumulate points and secure spots in the November showdown.
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