NCBA Group has reaffirmed its commitment to golf development in East Africa with a $1 million annual investment, targeting future champions and fostering a stronger golfing community. The bank's investment goes beyond competition, focusing on nurturing talent, expanding opportunities, and using sport to bring people together. This commitment was highlighted during the recent NCBA Golf Series Rwanda, which concluded its two-day Kigali qualifier.
The Kigali qualifier identified top golfers who will advance to the regional grand finale in Nairobi, Kenya, on November 27. NCBA Bank Rwanda Managing Director Maurice Toroitich emphasized the role golf can play in helping individuals discover and realize their potential. The bank has supported golf in Rwanda for three years and across the region for six years, demonstrating its sustained commitment to the sport.
One of the standout stories from the Kigali qualifier was Alice Rwigema, who claimed the overall women's gross title with a combined total of 166. Her performance earned her a trophy, a golf bag, and a place at the regional finale in Nairobi. Rwigema expressed her delight at winning and her determination to prepare thoroughly for the next stage, hoping to inspire more women and girls in Rwanda to take up golf.
The Kigali qualifier showcased talent across six categories, with winners in men's and women's handicap divisions, as well as seniors' categories. Paul Mburu, Davis Nteziryayo, and Emmanuel Rukangira were among the winners in the men's handicap divisions, while Melissa Akanigi and Park Sunran topped the women's competition. Joseph Ntambara secured the seniors' net title with 152.
The tournament also celebrated individual excellence through special awards, including longest drives and nearest-the-pin awards. Benjamin Mukisa, Melissa Akanigi, and Kang Kwang Jong recorded the longest drives in their respective categories, while Anton Larsen, Sheetal Philip, and Janvier Gasasira claimed the nearest-the-pin awards.
NCBA's investment in golf extends beyond producing elite players, focusing on the friendships, professional relationships, camaraderie, and sense of community that the sport fosters. The bank's support for the Sunshine Tour demonstrates the opportunities that sustained investment can create, offering an example of the professional levels that emerging golfers may aspire to reach.
For the qualifiers heading to Nairobi, the journey presents both a reward for their performances and an opportunity to grow through regional competition. Their results at the finale will provide another measure of their progress and the strength of Rwanda's golfing talent. Ultimately, NCBA's investment aims to create the conditions in which ambition can translate into achievement, helping to turn promising talent into champions.
Key points
- NCBA Group invests $1 million annually in golf across East Africa.
- The bank's investment targets future champions and fosters a stronger golfing community.
- The NCBA Golf Series Rwanda concluded its two-day Kigali qualifier, identifying top golfers for the regional grand finale in Nairobi.
