The Magical Kenya Ladies Open (MKLO) is poised to grace the 18-hole Baobab Course at Vipingo Ridge, Kilifi County, from February 8 to 11, marking the fourth edition of the tournament after successful runs in 2019, 2022, and 2023.
As a consistent tradition, the Magical Kenya Ladies Open, the sole women’s professional golf tournament in East Africa, is set to kickstart the 2024 Ladies European Tour (LET) calendar, just as it did in the previous two editions.
With entries opening on January 1, a competitive field of 108 players is expected to vie for a share of the €300,000 prize money over the four-day event. Building on the success of the 2023 edition, where Aditi Ashok claimed victory with a remarkable nine-shot lead, the Magical Kenya Ladies Open promises an exciting beginning to the LET season against the scenic backdrop of Vipingo Ridge.
The tournament continues to attract top talent from the LET, featuring rookies, past champions, and emerging stars. Notable participants include German Alexandra Försterling, winner of the 2023 VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open and the 2023 Mallorca Ladies Open, Kristýna Napoleaová from the Czech Republic, champion of the 2023 Amundi German Masters, 2023 MKLO runner-up Alice Hewson from England, third-place finisher April Angurasaranee from Thailand, and last year’s hole-in-one sensation, Swedish Lisa Pettersson.
Kenya’s top amateur golfer, Naomi Wafula, is expected to lead the Kenyan contingent, with further details about the team to be unveiled soon.
U.COM Event Managing Director Dirk Glittenberg expressed enthusiasm for the tournament’s return, anticipating heightened competition fueled by the exceptional talents it consistently attracts. He highlighted the expanded field size of 108 golfers, up from 96 in the previous edition, as a sign of another year of outstanding competition.
Vipingo Ridge Founder Alastair Cavenagh shared his delight in hosting the MKLO for the fourth year, emphasizing the event’s growth in stature and its role in promoting ladies golf in Kenya. He expressed hopes of seeing a Kenyan player permanently on the tour in the near future, underlining the MKLO’s significance as one of Kenya’s leading international sporting events.
The event will be globally broadcasted, providing fans worldwide the opportunity to witness top-level golf. Broadcast details will be disclosed in the coming weeks.
The Ladies European Tour (LET) is gearing up for a historic 2024, featuring 31 events across 20 countries. Key highlights include the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the Solheim Cup in Gainesville, Virginia, and the AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews, serving as the final qualification event for the European Solheim Cup team.
Following the Magical Kenya Ladies Open (MKLO), the LET series will continue its journey with stops in Saudi Arabia before heading to Morocco for the prestigious Lalla Meryem Cup.
