Adel Balala hopeful as weekend of title defence beckons
By Lucky Oluoch, July 18, 2025Defending champion Adel Balala headlines a star-studded field this weekend as the NCBA Kabete Open tees off from today through Sunday at Vet Lab Sports Club, launching this year’s eagerly awaited Kenya Swing Tournaments.
Balala is eyeing a record fourth title after wins in 2021, 2022 and 2024 and is set to compete against 89 other top golfers including Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) Championship leader John Lejirma, Michael Karanga and home favourite Ebill Omolo.
The event brings together 90 players: 80 from Kenya and 10 international entrants from Rwanda, Mauritius, Austria, Zambia, South Africa and Burundi, all chasing vital World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) and KAGC points.
The NCBA Kabete Open marks the start of the three-part Kenya Swing series, which will feature the Kenya Amateur Matchplay Championship at Sigona Golf Club next week and conclude with the Kenya Amateur Strokeplay Championship later this month, again at Vet Lab.
Organisers say the back-to-back format is designed to attract international talent, enhance competition, and showcase Kenya’s rising golfing standards.
The tournament will see all players compete over two rounds, with the top 33 and ties advancing to the final round. A prize purse of Sh500,000 is up for grabs, with the winner walking away with Sh115,000.
Among the women, teenage prodigy Kanana Muthomi leads a promising Kenyan contingent including Bianca Ngecu, Joyce Wanjiru, Mercy Nyanchama, and Kellie Gachaga. Internationally, Niyonkuru Alain (Rwanda), Pranay Kapur (South Africa) and Gilbert Chalwe (Rwanda) headline the visiting line-up.
Tournament Director Brian Akun expressed gratitude to players, Vet Lab Sports Club, and NCBA Bank, whose sponsorship he described as “a cornerstone of our success.”
He highlighted how the series continues to elevate the standards of amateur golf across the region.
“This platform allows our players to shine and showcase their talent. And of course, we thank NCBA Bank for their unwavering sponsorship throughout the series, their partnership is a cornerstone of our success.”
Meanwhile, the NCBA Golf Series will keep the local scene busy as Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club hosts its Monthly Mug tomorrow, where golfers aim to qualify for the NCBA grand finale in November.
Last weekend, Eldoret Golf Club produced four new finalists: overall winner Dennis Rono, men’s winner Shadrack Ngetich, lady winner Jedidah Keitany, and junior winner Jonathan Barorot.