2022 Magical Kenya Ladies Open Gets Ksh 25.5Mn Sponsorship

Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL), will sponsor the 2022 Magical Kenya Ladies Open with Ksh 25.5 million through its premium spirit brand Johnnie Walker.

The four-day Ladies European Tour (LET) sanctioned tournament begins 10th – 13th February at the 18-hole PGA Baobab Course at Vipingo Ridge, Kilifi County. 

This is the only LET-sanctioned women’s professional golf competition in the East African region.

“This is part of our continued commitment towards supporting the growth of golf in the country, which is currently on an upward trajectory. Through this sponsorship, we aim to cement our relationship with the tournament, which has proven to be a premier ladies’ competition in the region,” KBL Managing Director John Musunga says.

A Pro-Am event will precede the tournament on February 10, a day before the tournament’s opening round at the continent’s single PGA-accredited course.

The tournament first held in 2019, will feature a field of 96 golfers drawn from 25 different nationalities who will battle it out for the largest share of the prize purse, which is set at €300,000 (Approximately Ksh 38.8 million).

Esther Henseleit from Germany, who won the maiden Magical Kenya Ladies Open in 2019, will be among the event’s critical highlights alongside Lee-Anne Pace from South Africa, Julia Engstrom from Sweden, Sanna Nuutinen from Finland, Olivia Cowan from Germany, among others.

Kenyan will be represented by the Nyali Golf and Country Club pro-Bhavi Shah, who will be joined by amateurs Naomi Wafula, Mercy Nyanchama, Chanelle Wangari, and Faith Chemutai.

Wafula finished the event as the highest-ranked Kenyan in 2019, having carded a total of 13-over par 157 after 36 holes to finish tied in 87th.

Bhavi ended her maiden Ladies European Tour (LET) campaign tied in 98th and will be looking for a more robust finish this year.

U.COM Event managing director Dirk Glittenberg said: “We are happy to once again welcome Kenya Breweries as the official alcoholic beverage partner for the tournament.

The sponsorship speaks to the company’s commitment to supporting the sport of golf in the country. This sponsorship will be key to ensuring we deliver a memorable event this year.”