Naomi Wafula Makes History: First Female to Win Kenya Amateur Golf Championship
Stunning Victory at the Kiambu Open
Vipingo Ridge proudly congratulates Naomi Wafula on her historic win at the Kiambu Open at the weekend. Naomi became the ever first lady to take home the cash prize in the Kenya Amateur Golf Championship series. The atmosphere was charged with anticipation as she opened the tournament with a one-shot lead and played consistently throughout the tournament. In the final stages of the tournament and after a tie, she beat Uganda’s number one player, Godfrey Nsubuga in an additional 8-hole playoff, to take the cash prize home.
73 players took part in the 54-hole Kiambu Open Golf Tournament at the par-72 Kiambu Golf Club Course. Two weeks before this tournament, Naomi and 99 other players took part in Manchester Salver in Eldoret. Once again, she was one of only two females in the tournament. Looking ahead, she is due to take part in the two remaining men’s tournaments at Royal and Nyali. Other players who played included Vipingo Ridge’s Adel Balala and popular amateur golfer Michael Karanga.
A Rising Star
Naomi’s interest in golf began at the age of six. Her aunt was the first female professional golfer in the country who had represented the country at various global events. Naomi would practice golf with her every Sunday. This consistency paid off as she joined national team; Kenya Ladies Golf Union at the age of 12.
Naomi has also won several awards, with her most memorable being the 2011 SOYA Award, the All-Africa Challenge (Junior) Trophy (AACT), which she won in Botswana in 2012, as well as the 2013 Junior Golf Foundation (JGF) where she was crowned ‘Top Girl of the Year.’ Today Naomi is a 6-time Kenya Ladies Amateur Champion and her home club is Vipingo Ridge, where she trains in Kenya’s only PGA-Academy. With a handicap of -1.6, she aspires to play professional golf.
Double Triumph: History in the Making
Incredibly, this is the second time this year that Naomi Wafula has made history. In February 2023, she became the first Kenyan to ever make the cut at a Ladies European Tour event after returning a score of 3-over par, 76, in Round Two of the 2023 Magical Kenya Ladies Open.
Speaking with her after her latest win, Naomi said; “I am so happy with my win because I always believed that I would beat the guys in one of these tournaments. In the playoff, I told myself that if I lose, I will lose fighting. The 8-hole playoff with Godfrey Nsubuga from Uganda was so dramatic, but everyone was rooting for me - the gallery was amazing. I was happy to play with Mike Karanga and Godfrey in the last group and I felt a sense of relief in the end. I am so grateful to Vipingo Ridge and all my other sponsors for their continued support. It is an honour to have started the year making history and ending the year making history again. Thank you” – Naomi Wafula
Naomi’s historic win not only cements her status as a rising star in the world of golf but also reflects the commitment to excellence shared by Vipingo Ridge, and her other sponsors, who believe in supporting emerging talent in the Kenyan golf and sporting community. We are incredibly proud of Naomi’s sportsmanship and achievements.
