Golfer Wafula headed to Amundi German Masters
Kenyan lady golfer Naomi Wafula has received an invite to play at the Amundi German Masters in June this year.
The invite came as a result of Wafula’s stellar performance after making history by becoming the first Kenyan golfer to make a cut in the Ladies European Tour (LET) held at Vipingo Ridge, Baobab course in Kilifi County.
“We are very grateful to all our sponsors and the Ministry of Sports for the great support and success of this event.
“In June, we will be running Amundi German Masters, and we are delighted to make our first invite to Naomi Wafula to participate.
“She has made all of us proud by becoming the first Kenyan golfer to make a cut in the finals at the European Ladies Tour,” said Dirk Glittenberg, Chief Executive Officer, U.COM Event.
Wafula was among the five Kenyan amateurs sponsored by Safaricom’s M-PESA GlobalPay in the just concluded Magical Kenya Ladies Open.
Wafula carded four over par 77 in the final round, which included five bogeys with only one bogey, to finish in 56th place, beating five professionals who had also made cut.
Nine shots
During the Vipingo tournament, India’s Aditi Ashok triumphed at the 2023 Magical Kenya Ladies Open winning the tournament by nine shots to secure her fourth LET title.
The two-time Olympian produced the wire-to-wire victory at Vipingo Ridge where a round of 74 (+1) on the final day was enough for the win.
Ashok received her trophy from First Lady Rachael Ruto in the presence of Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba and his Tourism counterpart Peninah Malonza.
“Its such a great feeling winning in Kenya in the presence of giraffes on the course and my dad (Pandit Ashok) caddying. Winning here evokes a feeling of anticipation into the new season. My fitness team did well to get me into the rythm”
“My training during the offseason has really paid off and I want to thank my fitness team for their unending effort,” said Aditi. England’s Alice Hewson and April Angurasaranee tied for second on 3 Under Par 289 although the latter was left to rue what she described a “bad last round”.
This year’s Magical Kenya Ladies Open received a significant boost of Sh 26.8 million from Safaricom’s M-PESA GlobalPay.
The company also sponsored four juniors - Jecinta Njeri, Kanana Muthomi, Idda Rose and Vivienne Otunde, who participated in the ProAm tournament.
Safaricom also organized a golf clinic which saw a total of 16 junior golfers benefit from the golf clinic with coaching from professional golfers.
