Madina climbs to top 20 at Karen Challenge

NAIROBI: TANZANIA’S Madina Iddi produced another strong performance on the regional amateur golf circuit, finishing tied for 20th at the NCBA Karen Challenge 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya, over the weekend.

The Arusha Gymkhana Golf Club (AGC) player opened with a five-over-par 77 on Friday, tying for 20th before carding an eight-over-par 80 in Sat- urday’s second round at Karen Country Club.

Her two-round total of 157, 13-over par, left her tied for 33rd among more than 150 golfers. She was exactly on the cut line and secured her place in Sun- day’s final round of the 54-hole tournament.

Madina pro- duced her best round of the competition on the final day, shooting a one-over- par 73 to climb 13 places and finish tied for 20th on 14-over-par 230.

“It was a tough tourna- ment, but in the end, I moved from 33rd to 20th. This shows that everything is possible … God is everything, and I thank Him,” Madina told the Daily News.

The result continues a strong run of form for Madina, who finished runner-up at the NCBA Ruiru Open in June.

She recorded a three-round total of one-under-par 218 at Ruiru, opening with consecutive rounds of 72 before closing with a 74. The performance earned her valuable World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points and a share of second place with Kenya’s John Kamaisi and Josphat Rono.

Eugine Wafula won the Ruiru Open on two-under-par 217.

The Karen Challenge attracted more than 150 golfers from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, India and Austria, making it one of the stronger regional fields.

Kenya’s Adel Taufiq Balala won the title after finishing the 54-hole tournament at level-par 216. Kamaisi was runner-up on two-over-par 218, while Mwathi Gicheru took third on three-over-par 219.

Madina’s latest finish further strengthens her record in regional competitions and adds to Tanzania’s growing presence in women’s amateur golf.

Fellow Tanzanian, Enosh Wanyeche, missed the cut after a promising start.

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Wanyeche opened with a two-over-par 74 to sit tied for 10th, but an 86 in the second round left him on 16-over-par 160, three shots outside the cutline.