Top African golfers set for Johnnie Walker Classic in Nairobi
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Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 09.10.25. | 11:47
The Sunshine Development Tour East Africa Swing provides a structured pathway for elite amateur and professional golfers in Africa,
All is set for the Johnnie Walker Classic, the sixth leg of the Sunshine Development Tour East Africa Swing (SDT EAS), scheduled for 13 to 15 October, at the Royal Nairobi Golf Club.
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The tournament will feature 82 golfers from across Africa competing for Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) and Sunshine Development Tour Order of Merit points, as well as a prize purse of Ksh 2 million. It will be preceded by the Johnnie Walker Pro-Am on Saturday, October 11, giving amateur players an opportunity to play alongside leading regional professionals ahead of the main championship.
This year’s event has attracted an elite field of professionals and top amateurs from Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Malawi, and Burundi. The 54-hole competition will see the top 30 players and ties advance after round two to contest the final round on Wednesday, October 15.
The tournament has received a sponsorship boost from Vivo Energy Kenya, the Shell licensee in the country. The partnership aims to support the continued growth of professional and elite amateur golf in Kenya.
Speaking during the sponsorship announcement, Vivo Energy Kenya’s Marketing Manager, Yvonne Samantha Achieng, said the company was proud to partner with the Sunshine Development Tour as part of its broader commitment to community empowerment through sport.
“We are delighted to support the development of professional and elite amateur golf in the country. This partnership reflects our strategic objective of investing in sports that elevate Kenya’s profile internationally,” she said.
IMG Kenya CEO Peter Gacheru welcomed Vivo Energy’s involvement, noting that it demonstrates growing confidence in the Tour’s mission to strengthen regional golf.
“The East Africa Swing has transformed the regional golf scene, improving participation, performance, and recognition through world ranking points. With the support of partners like Johnnie Walker and Vivo Energy Kenya, we’re building a pathway for African golfers to compete globally,” Gacheru stated.
Tournament Director David Kihara confirmed that the Royal Nairobi Golf Club course is in top condition and ready for play.
“Preparations are complete, and we expect a highly competitive tournament. The course is in excellent shape, and the quality of participation reflects how far the tour has progressed,” he said.
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Notable professionals in the field include Rwanda’s Celestin Nsanzuwera, winner of the previous leg in Kigali, Kenya’s Njoroge Kibugu, Mutahi Kibugu, Dismas Indiza, David Wakhu, Greg Snow, and John Lejirma, as well as Visitor Mapwanya (Zimbabwe), Olapade Sunday (Nigeria), and Phillip Kasozi (Uganda).
Female participants will include Kenya’s Naomi Wafula, Margaret Njoki, Ashley Awuor, and Kellie Gachaga, alongside Tanzania’s Angel Eaton and Madina Hussein, underlining the Tour’s commitment to inclusion and women’s participation in golf.
The Sunshine Development Tour East Africa Swing provides a structured pathway for elite amateur and professional golfers in Africa, offering OWGR, WAGR, and Order of Merit points that enable players to progress to higher-tier circuits such as the Sunshine Tour and Big Easy Tour in South Africa.
