Maina, Muia shine at NCBA Karen qualifier
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Reading Time: 3min | Mon. 16.06.25. | 13:30
Action now shifts to Ruiru Sports Club for the 15th qualifying leg of the series, set for Saturday, June 21, 2025.
Gilbert Maina shot an impressive round of 74 gross off handicap 4 to emerge as the overall winner at the Karen Country Club qualifying leg of the 2025 NCBA Golf Series on Saturday, June 14, 2025, as Koki Muia was crowned the Overall Gross Lady Winner.
It was an exciting outing in Uganda, where last year’s junior winner in the same qualifying event, Gabriel Amani, put up a brilliant display to bag 47 points and emerge as the overall winner.
Playing off handicap 18, Godwill Bindeeba won the men’s category with 45 points, while last year’s Division One Lady Winner, Judith Komugisha, scooped the ladies’ title with 44 points.
A total of 460 golfers were in action this weekend—260 at Karen, including 13 junior golfers who had a splendid day on the course, and another 200 at Uganda Golf Club—as the 2025 Series hosted its first regional double-header of the season.
Playing in the Karen leg of the series for the third time, Muia (HC 12) returned a score of 81 to clinch the ladies' title and book her slot in the grand finale of the competition, set for November this year.
Muia will be hoping to replicate the heroics of her clubmate, Sarah Nyareru, who won this leg last year and went on to emerge as the overall winner during the finale at Muthaiga Golf Club.
Speaking after her victory, Muia said: “Today was fantastic, and I had the best day on the course. The weather was good, and I had great teammates, so the game just came together. I have played the NCBA Series three times, and this is my first time winning. I am looking forward to playing at the finale.”
Peter Marandu (HC 11) claimed the Division One title after carding 40 points.
Betty Gacheru emerged as the Division Two Lady Winner with an impressive 42 points playing off handicap 16, while Cyllus Onyango (HC 14) carded 41 points to win the Men’s category, though on countback.
The Division Three prize went to Kenneth Muraguri (HC 26), whose excellent play earned him 41 points, also on countback. Nathan Gikemi won the junior category after returning 39 points while playing off handicap 24.
Apolo Asol (HC 26) was the Staff Winner with 37 points, also following a countback, while Mwangi Kiragu emerged as the Guest Winner with 37 points.
Miriam Njoroge had the closest-to-the-pin shot among the ladies, with Collins Were doing the same for the men.
In the Longest Drive challenge, Pettie Ndolo powered her way to the ladies' win, while Mike Njogu took the men’s title.
NCBA Group Managing Director John Gachora said: “It has been a wonderful day as we had two tournaments going on—one at Karen Country Club and the other at Uganda Golf Club—and in total, we had 460 golfers on the course. This week, we made a big move by working with several partners to start supporting professionals through the Professional Golfers of Kenya. We are committing more money to aid in the further development of golf.”
Following the successful completion of the two legs in Karen and Kampala, action now shifts to Ruiru Sports Club for the 15th qualifying leg of the series, set for Saturday, June 21, 2025.
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