The Road to Somabay World Cup – Egypt 2026 made a successful stop at Great Rift Valley Lodge & Golf Resort during the Madaraka Day weekend, attracting golfers from across the region for an exciting qualifier that combined competitive golf, hospitality and the pursuit of international glory.
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Great Rift Valley, the event delivered a memorable weekend of golf as players competed for qualification spots and valuable points on the road to the National Grand Finale.
Jason Hoving emerged as the Overall Winner after posting an impressive 42 points, narrowly edging Jackson Gibendi, who finished Runner-Up on the same score after countback.
In Division A, Stephen Gichari produced a solid performance to claim victory with 37 points, while Maina Ruo secured second place with 36 points. Division B honours went to Mondo Charagu after returning an excellent score of 39 points, with George Mukundi finishing as runner-up on 38 points.
Beyond the overall competition, the tournament also produced qualifiers across various categories as golfers continued their pursuit of a place in the National Grand Finale.
GRVL Members Qualifiers
Division A
- Stephen Gichari
- Kevin Smith
Division B
- George Mukundi
- Keri Angus
Regional Qualifiers
Division A
- Simon Lomadi (Naivasha Sports Club)
- Ben Pennington (Njoro Country Club)
Division B
- Jackson Gibendi (Naivasha Sports Club)
- Jason Hoving (Naivasha Sports Club)
Guest Qualifiers
Division A
- Sean Watson (Golf Park)
- Peter Kinuthia (Limuru Country Club)
Division B
- Mondo Charagu (Thika Sports Club)
- Haggai Papera (Golf Park)
The event attracted strong participation from golfers representing clubs across the country, reflecting the growing popularity of the Road to Somabay series and the increasing desire among amateur golfers to test themselves on a larger stage.
Speaking after the tournament, Great Rift Valley Lodge & Golf Resort Club Captain David Githinji expressed his delight at the turnout and the overall atmosphere throughout the weekend.
"The response was fantastic. The course was busy throughout the weekend and the resort enjoyed full occupancy. Most importantly, golfers had an opportunity to enjoy themselves, compete and spend time with fellow golfers. Not everyone wins on the day, but everyone can enjoy the experience and continue pursuing qualification opportunities."
The Road to Somabay World Cup continues to gain momentum as one of the region's most exciting amateur golf initiatives.
CIB Bank Kenya Chief Executive Officer Tirus Mwithiga noted that the partnership between the bank and Michezonet is helping create meaningful opportunities for golfers while strengthening sporting ties between Kenya and Egypt.
"As an Egyptian bank, we are particularly excited that the winners of the National Grand Finale will have an opportunity to travel to Egypt and represent Kenya at the Somabay World Cup. It is a unique platform that combines competition, talent development and international exposure."
With additional qualifying events scheduled across the country, golfers will continue their quest to secure places in the National Grand Finale, where the ultimate prize awaits—a chance to represent Kenya at the prestigious Somabay World Cup in Egypt.
The Road to Somabay World Cup is organized by MichezoNet in partnership with CIB Bank, Le Club Golf International, OCS Group, Somabay Golf, The Cascades Golf Resort and Hechter Paris.