BY PHILLIP ORWA
The coastline city of Mombasa will play host to the East Africa Sunshine Development Tour this weekend at the scenic Diamonds Leisure Beach and Golf Resort.
This will be the fourth leg of the event that will see Diamond Leisure welcoming 61 professional and elite amateur golfers from various African countries set to battle it out for Sh2 million in prize money and crucial Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) and World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points.
This Diani edition, officially the SunDev East Africa Johnnie Walker Classic, following sponsorship by East African Breweries PLC (EABL) through its premium brand, Johnnie Walker, tees off on Saturday, 9th August and runs until Monday, 11th August 2025, just days after the thrilling Nyali Golf & Country Club leg that saw Windsor Golf & Country Club’s Njoroge Kibugu clinch his second Sunshine Development Tour title of the year.
The Diamonds Leisure leg has attracted a stellar line-up from Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Burundi. The Kenyan contingent features Nyali winner Njoroge Kibugu, who will be aiming to carry his momentum into Diani, Nyali Golf & Country Club’s own Daniel Nduva fresh from his tied-second finish, and seasoned campaigners Greg Snow, Dismas Indiza, David Wakhu, Samuel Njoroge, Kenneth Bollo, and Tony Omuli. Vipingo’s Naom Wafula will also be seeking to continue his stellar performances since turning pro.
Rwanda will once again be led by Celestin Nsazuwera, who tied for second at Nyali after being in contention until the final hole. Sunday Olapade will carry Nigeria’s hopes, while Uganda’s challenge will be spearheaded by Ronald Rugumayo.
Tanzania arrives with a six-strong squad, including Nuru Mollel, Isaac Wanyeche, and Abdalla Dullah, while Ghana and Malawi each have a single representative in Erick Kwame and Paul Chidale respectively.
The women’s draw will again be headlined by Naom Wafula of Vipingo Ridge Golf Resort, who recently turned professional and made the cut at Nyali and will be looking to build on that momentum in Diani.
The par-72 Diamonds Leisure Golf Resort course is known for its coastal winds, tricky greens, and lush tropical fairways, making accuracy off the tee and careful course management essential.
Speaking ahead of the event, defending champion Njoroge Kibugu said: “Nyali was emotional for me, but I have quickly shifted my focus to Diani. It’s a completely different course and set-up, and I know I’ll need to adapt quickly. The goal remains to stay consistent and put myself in contention for Monday.”
Nyali runner-up Daniel Nduva is optimistic about going one better: “Playing at home last week was special, but I came just short. I’m feeling confident about my game heading into Diamonds Leisure, the course suits my style and I’m ready to fight for the win.”
Rwanda’s Celestin Nsazuwera, who has been in superb form since his Q-School win in April, added: “I’ve been getting closer each tournament, and I believe I can go one step further this week. The focus will be on sticking to my game plan, especially on the final stretch.”
Adding extra excitement to this year’s Classic, a Hole-in-One prize will be on offer at hole 12, where a trip for two to the world-renowned Maasai Mara will be up for grabs courtesy of the tour partners, Pure Travel, offering the ultimate safari experience for the lucky golfer who manages the feat.
