Kenyan trailblazer Naom Wafula arrives in South Africa this week, ready to write a new chapter in East African golf. Fresh from a standout run on the inaugural Sunshine Development Tour East Africa Swing, Wafula has earned a coveted playing card to the Sunshine Ladies Tour, becoming the first Kenyan to secure full access to the continental circuit for professional women golfers.
A Debut Charged with Promise
Wafula touched down in South Africa on Sunday and will make her Sunshine Ladies Tour debut at the SuperSport Ladies Challenge, teeing off from 4–6 February 2026 at Humewood Golf Club. The 54-hole event boasts a prize purse of Ksh 10.4 million and a competitive field of 56 professionals drawn from 15 countries, with Wafula standing out as the sole representative from East Africa.
Ready for the Next Level
Reflecting on the leap up, Wafula said she feels prepared and eager. She credited the Development Tour for sharpening her game, providing regular competition and exposure to stronger fields that revealed what it takes to compete at the next tier. “I am excited to test myself and continue learning as I take this next step in my career,” she said, capturing both confidence and hunger.
The Tour Responds
Peter Gacheru, Chairman of the Sunshine Development Tour East Africa Swing, hailed Wafula’s progression as proof the pathway is working. Her ascent from regional development events to the main Sunshine Ladies Tour is a tangible outcome of the Tour’s mission to elevate talent across East Africa and open doors to global competition.
A Busy Season Ahead
Wafula’s calendar is packed after the SuperSport Ladies Challenge. Her upcoming Sunshine Ladies Tour appearances include:
NTT Data Ladies Pro Am — 13–15 February at Fancourt Montagu
Standard Bank Ladies Open — 5–7 March at Durbanville Golf Club
Jabra Ladies Classic — 11–13 March at Killarney Country Club
Platinum Ladies Open — 18–20 March at Blair Atholl
Absa Ladies Invitational — 26–28 March at Royal Johannesburg
Joburg Ladies Open — 16–19 April at Randpark Golf Club
Investec SA Women’s Open — 23–26 April at Royal Cape Golf Club
MCB Ladies Classic — 1–3 May 2026
A Historic Moment for Kenyan Women’s Golf
Naom Wafula’s Sunshine Ladies Tour debut is more than a personal milestone; it’s a landmark for Kenyan women’s golf and a vivid sign that the Sunshine Development Tour East Africa Swing is delivering on its promise. As she steps onto Humewood’s fairways this week, Wafula carries the hopes of a region and the momentum of a pathway that is beginning to reshape the map of professional women’s golf.
