By Phillip Orwa
The 2026 NCBA golf calendar continues to gather momentum this weekend as the NCBA Golf Series heads to Kenya Railway Golf Club for the sixth qualifier of the season on Saturday, while the Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) circuit tees off the inaugural Ulinzi Invitational at Kenya Airforce Golf Club.
The Railway qualifier is expected to attract more than 130 golfers seeking to secure their spots in the NCBA Golf Series Grand Finale set for later in the year at the Karen Country Club.
Golfers will battle for top honors in multiple categories including the overall gross winner men, overall gross winner lady, overall gross runners up men, overall gross runners up lady, the third and fourth best overall gross, and junior winner.
Meanwhile, attention on the elite amateur circuit shifts to the Kenya Airforce Golf Club, where the Ulinzi Invitational will be played from Friday 27th through to Sunday 29th March, marking one of the two new tournaments introduced into the KAGC calendar this season, the other one being Machakos Open set for mid-April.
The tournament has attracted a competitive field of slightly over 70 golfers, including Rwanda’s Jean D’amour Hitayezu and Felix Dusabe of Kigali Golf Resort & Villas. Among the Kenyan players expected to contend is Michael Warigia of Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club, who heads into the event in strong form after finishing third at last weekend’s NCBA Muthaiga Open.
Also expected to feature are Longwe Kamoza and Isaac Makokha, as players battle for valuable Order of Merit points and a share of the Sh500,000 prize purse on offer.
NCBA Group Managing Director John Gachora reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to the development of golf in Kenya. “At NCBA, we believe in creating platforms that nurture talent and bring the golfing community together. The NCBA Golf Series continues to provide golfers across the country with an opportunity to compete, grow their game, and build meaningful connections. As the series heads to Railway this weekend, we look forward to another exciting round of competition and to seeing more players earn their place at the Grand Finale. It is also a weekend that has action for the elite amateurs as the KAGC circuit continues with the newly introduced Ulinzi Invitational, as well as something for the juniors with the NCBA Coast Junior Open.”
The NCBA Ulinzi Invitational follows closely on the heels of the NCBA Muthaiga Open, where home player Jay Sandhu continued his impressive run of form, claiming his second consecutive KAGC title after a hard-fought victory over a competitive field of more than 140 golfers.
The win saw Sandhu extend his lead at the top of the KAGC Order of Merit standings, with junior star Junaid Manji and defending champion John Lejirma also remaining firmly in the hunt as the season progresses.
Beyond the KAGC action, junior golf also remains firmly in the spotlight. The All Africa Junior Team Championship is set to conclude on Thursday 26th March, while the Coast Junior Open will take place on 28th March.
