One last go at Kenya Open slots as final safari tour gets underway

The final leg of the 2023/24 Safari Tour golf series has received a massive boost after SBM Bank Kenya announced Ksh 2 million in sponsorship as part of its dedication to supporting the growth and development of golf in Kenya.

The tournament is scheduled to take place from 3 to 7 February at the Karen Country Club and serves as a crucial preparation for elite amateurs and professionals leading up to the Magical Kenya Open Championship slated for 22 to 25 February.

"We are proud to partner with the Safari Tour and support the incredible talent being nurtured through this platform," said Mr. Moezz Mir, CEO of SBM Bank Kenya. "As a bank committed to enabling progress, we recognize the vital role sports like golf play in empowering our youth and communities. Our sponsorship of the Safari Tour's final leg reiterates our commitment to the future of Kenyan golf."

Kenyan golfers confident ahead of Magical Kenya Ladies Open

He added, "The Safari Tour has been integral in developing talented golfers who have gone on to succeed locally and globally. We are pleased to provide this boost to the final leg as the players prepare for the upcoming Magical Kenya Open Championship."

As part of its sponsorship, SBM Bank will feature experiential displays of its services onsite during the Karen tournament, offering golf fans a taste of its unique banking solutions.

Leading up to the final leg at the Karen Country Club, the Safari Tour golf series has witnessed exceptional performances across various clubs in Kenya and Uganda.

This annual golf competition serves as a developmental tour for African professional golfers, commencing with the Uganda Open in late October 2023.

The Karen event follows the fifth leg of the 2023/24 Safari Tour Series that ended on Wednesday at Muthaiga Golf Club where Great Rift Valley Golf Resort’s Jastas Madoya fired seven-under par 277 gross to win the tournament at the Par 71 championship course.

Madoya, who is among the few Kenyan pros to cut MKO European Tour status since 2019, eclipsed home player Mutahi Kibugu by a solitary shot to lay his hand on the coveted Muthaiga leg title.

The result saw him move up the log from 11th to sixth in the “Road to Kenya Open” series—where the top eight local pros and two from the region will qualify for the DP World Tour (formerly European Tour) event from February 22-25.

The top eight professionals from the series will qualify for the 2024 Magical Kenya Open, which is part of the DP World Tour.

This year’s final leg of the Safari Tour will be preceded by a Pro-Am event for amateurs before the professionals compete for the top spots in the road to the Magical Kenya Open Championship.