Wafula To Headline National Team For Magical Kenya Ladies Open
VIPINGO, Kenya- Sensational Naomi Wafula will headline this year’s Magical Kenya Ladies Open set for Vipingo Ridge in Kilifi on February 2-5.
Others who have been confirmed in the Kenya women’s golf team are Mercy Nyanchama, Nancy Wairimu and Chanelle Wangari.
The Kenyans will battle against other 96 professional contestants from around the world in the tournament.
The event will be the season opener for the 2023 Ladies European Tour calendar.
The tournament will be preceded with a Pro-Am contest on February 1 where Kenya’s amateur golfers will team up with the professionals to battle it out in a friendly game before the main event.
Wafula and Nyanchama will be making their third appearances in the tournament, having featured in the 2019 and 2022 editions, while 16-year-old Wangari will be featuring for the second time.
Wairimu will be making her maiden appearance in the event.
The quartet will be looking to leave a mark in the tournament that boasts as the only professional ladies golf event in the East African region.
Nyanchama, who ups her training at Vet Lab Sports Club in Kabete, was the highest-ranked Kenyan in the 2022 edition after finishing in 74th place after firing a round total of 14 over par 158 gross.
Nyanchama says her aim this year is to make the cut.
“I am very excited to play in the tournament this season.
“It will be my third attempt in the contest and I hope to do better.
“I have so far learnt a lot in this competition.
“I hope to turn pro in the near future,” said Nyanchama.
“Currently, I’m practicing on my own as I prepare for the tournament.
I”I will head to Vipingo in the last week of this month for more practices before the start of the event.
“Last year I missed the cut by three shots and so I am hoping to achieve the feat this time round,” she added.
Vipingo Ridge’s PGA Academy star Wafula finished last year’s edition with a 20 over par after a total of 164 gross to tie in the 90th place with France’s Marion Duvernay and Denmark’s Linette Littau.
She is also hoping for a much more robust outing this season.
“I am excited that the Magical Kenya Ladies Open is coming back to Kenya. I am really looking forward to it. I have been doing a lot of practices and training here at Vipingo Ridge as I prepare for the tournament.
“I’m hoping to post better results than last year,” Wafula said.
She added: “I have been going to the gym five days a week in order to remain in the best shape possible.
“My coach has been helping me with my daily practice routine.
“I am very confident with my game at the moment which has really improved compared to last year.
“I strongly believe I am going to perform much better this season.”
Esther Henseleit of Germany has also confirmed her participation as she looks forward to successfully defend her title and secure a head start on the Race to Costa del Sol.
The tournament preparations are being done by organizers U.COM.
The Magical Kenya Ladies Open will be the first in a series of 39 events on the Ladies European Tour 2023 calendar – the most fixtures ever held on the Tour.
Kenyans already confirmed for this year’s Magical Kenya Ladies Open
-Naomi Wafula
-Mercy Nyanchama
-Nancy Wairimu
-Chanelle Wangari.
