Uganda’s Michael Alunga was on Sunday, July 14 crowned winner of the 102nd edition of the NCBA KenyaAmateurMatch PlayChampionship that was staged the Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club in Nairobi.
Alunga, who is based in the United States, defeated fellow Ugandan Joseph Cwinyaai in a sudden death playoff to win the championship title and subsequently qualify for the 2025 Magical Kenya Open.
After two rounds in the final, Alunga and Cwinyaai were all-square, and the matter had to be settled in a playoff. The duo remained even after the first playoff hole, but Alunga managed a birdie on the second hole to win the championship 1Up, following Cwinyaai’s par score on the same hole.
“It was a very tough day for me, but I am glad I emerged the winner. Playing 38 holes in one day is not easy, especially in the final; it is so tiring,” Alunga told local media, adding, “I have played with Cwinyaai so many times, but it had been a while since we last competed against each other. Despite the exhaustion, I managed to stay focused and execute my game plan effectively.”
Alunga, who once based himself in Kenya and won titles at various events there, earned KSh129,400 (USh3,704,722) for his triumph over the weekend.
In the semifinals on Saturday, Alunga secured victory over the Kenyan and defending champion Michael Karanga with a score of 1Up. Meanwhile, Cwinyaai advanced to the final by narrowly defeating South African Pranay Kapur in the second playoff hole, thereby ensuring an all-Ugandan showdown in the final.
For Alunga, the biggest reward of his weekend’s win is securing an early qualification for next year’s Magical Kenya Open.
The KenyaAmateurMatch PlayChampionship, sanctioned by the Kenya Golf Union, attracted a diverse field of 78 players from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, the United Kingdom, India, and South Africa.
The four-day championship started with the Stroke Play format on day one played over 36 holes, where all participants battled for a spot in the subsequent Match Play rounds.
