Daniel Nduva of Nyali Golf and Country Club tees off during the second round of the Absa Ruiru invitational, the fifth leg of the Sunshine Development Tour-East Africa Swing at Ruiru Sports Club./HANDOUT Jastas Madoya, Daniel Nduva and Andrew Chelogoi will carry Kenya’s hopes when the Sunshine Development Tour makes its West African debut at the Lakowe Lakes Classic in Lagos, Nigeria, from October 2 to 4.
The Kenyan trio are among 139 players from 10 countries lining up at Lakowe Lakes Golf Club, with 115 professionals and 24 amateurs competing for a share of the US$50,000 (Sh6.5m) prize fund.
Madoya, Nduva and Chelogoi will be looking to make an impact in unfamiliar territory as the Sunshine Development Tour expands beyond its established East African events. They will face a field featuring leading professionals from Nigeria and Ghana, as well as players from Rwanda, Uganda, Ivory Coast, Zimbabwe, Togo, Canada and Cameroon.
For the Kenyans, the three-day event offers more than prize money, with Official World Golf Ranking and Sunshine Development Tour Order of Merit points also on offer. The points will be important as they seek to advance through the Tour pathway towards opportunities on the main Sunshine Tour.
Nigeria has the largest representation with 105 players, including West Africa Qualifying School winner Francis Epe, while Ghana has 21. Kenya and Ivory Coast have three players each.
The tournament also features five female golfers and continues the Tour’s push to create more regular competitive opportunities for players across Africa.
David Ndungu, CEO of the Sunshine Development Tour, said bringing the circuit to West Africa would create greater interaction between golfers from different parts of the continent.
“The Lakowe Lakes Classic is an important milestone for the Sunshine Development Tour as we make our first entry into West Africa,” Ndungu said.
“The response from players has been encouraging, with 139 golfers from 10 countries coming together for this tournament. It demonstrates the appetite for regular, high-level competition and the importance of creating more opportunities for golfers across the continent.”
The event follows the Tour’s 2026 East Africa Swing and gives Madoya, Nduva and Chelogoi an opportunity to test themselves against a wider international field as the Sunshine Development Tour extends its reach into West Africa.
