From the onset, she has been one of the Kenyan golfers to watch in this Tournament and true to form, it is paying off.
Naomi Wafula has become 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. Her second day results take her gross score to 9-over par, 155, earning her a commendable slot to play through the weekend for a stake of the 300,000 Euros prize fund.
This is the third appearance for Naomi, Kenya’s top female amateur and Vipingo Ridge’s PGA Academy star student, at the Magical Kenya Ladies Open having failed to make the cut in 2019 and 2022.
Naomi, who finished her round at around lunchtime today, had to endure an agonising wait as the cut line oscillated between +8 and +10, before finally settling at +9, as the round drew to a close.
Naomi’s interest in golf began at the age of six. Her aunt was the first female professional golfer in the country who has 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 a young age. Since then, Naomi has represented the country a number of times. She has also won a couple of awards, her most memorable being the 2011 SOYA Award, the All Africa Challenge (Junior) Trophy (AACT) that she won in Botswana in 2012, as well as the 2013 Junior Golf Foundation (JGF) where she became the Top Girl of the Year. Today she is Kenya’s Ladies Amateur Champion and Vipingo Ridge’s PGA Academy top student,.
Last year Naomi Wafula played the prestigious Amundi German Masters in Berlin at the invitation of the Ladies European Tour. Despite being a professional tour, amateur Naomi was put forward by promoters of the Magical Kenya Ladies Open U.COM Event and took her place among a player field of 126 at Golf & Country Club Seddiner See.
Naomi’s journey is proof of horizons being broadened through the game of golf and she hopes her story inspires young Kenyans.
Come watch and cheer your favourite golfers. Spectators can purchase tickets to the four-day tournament through the online platform www.ticketsasa.com which are retailing for KES 500 per day.
The tournament is sponsored by among others, the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Sports and The Arts, U.COM , EABL through its Johnnie Walker brand, Magical Kenya, Safaricom’s Mpesa, Huawei, KCB Group and Visa.
