Tanzanian Trio makes SDT cut in Kenya
By Staff Writer
As golfers continue to celebrate Hawa Wanyeche’s historic victory at the 2026 Uganda Ladies Open, three of Tanzania’s four representatives have made the cut after two rounds of the Sunshine Development Tour East Africa Swing (SDT-EAS) 5 ABSA Invitational at Ruiru Sports Club in Kenya.
The cut was confirmed on Monday, August 17, with professional golfers Nuru Mollel and Isaac Wanyeche, together with elite amateur Madina Iddi, advancing to the final round of the 54-hole tournament.
The event has brought together professional and elite amateur men’s and women’s golfers from Uganda, Rwanda, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Tanzania and host Kenya.
Mollel is the leading Tanzanian after two rounds, finishing on one-over-par 141 following rounds of 69 and 72. He is tied for 10th, seven shots behind joint leaders and hosts Celestin Nsanzuwera and Daniel Nduva, who are both on five-under-par.
Madina, one of Tanzania’s leading amateur golfers who missed the Uganda Ladies Open, has switched to compete alongside the men in Kenya. She is tied for 26th overall on seven-over-par 147 after rounds of 75 and 72.
Professional Isaac Wanyeche also secured a place in the final round after carding 74 and 73 for a seven-over-par total of 147, leaving him tied for 26th alongside Madina and several other players.
For Madina, making the cut represents a major breakthrough after three previous attempts.
“God first, always. I have made the SDT cut for the first time after trying three times and missing the cut,” she told the Royal Magazine.
The Tanzanian trio will now have another 18 holes to fight for strong finishes when the tournament concludes on Tuesday.
The SDT-EAS 5 ABSA Invitational is being played over three rounds from August 16 to 18, with a KES 2 million prize fund at stake.
Only 30 golfers advanced to the final round from a field of 60 players.
The tournament is part of the Sunshine Development Tour’s East Africa Swing, providing professional and elite amateur golfers with valuable competitive experience and opportunities to progress to higher levels of the sport.