Why Gachaga is eager to punch Sunshine Ladies Tour ticket

Former Kenya One, Kellie Gachaga, had intentions to turn professional this year and take her golfing career to a whole new level by gracing international Tours.

Now, she is happy that the ongoing ="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/sports/golf/article/2001515221/its-battle-royale-as-players-fight-for-sunshine-tour-slots">Sunshine Development Tour Qualifying School< (Q-School) in Naivasha is giving her the pathway to realising her dream of becoming a better golfer.

The well-articulate Muthaiga Golf Club hard hitter is hopeful that she will be the lady who will eventually bag the women’s special ticket to the Sunshine Ladies Tour come Thursday when the Qualifying School contest being held at the Great Rift Valley Lodge and Golf Resort comes to an end.

"The Sunshine Development Tour is an amazing opportunity for Kenya and the entire East Africa region. I was excited to hear last Thursday that ladies have been included to participate in the Qualifiers. I got thrilled and registered for it, knowing that I also have a chance to play in the tournament and see where I stand,” Gachaga told Standard Sports.

"This year, I was looking for chances that could take me into either a Q-School, a Sunshine Tour or into the Ladies European Tour (LET) because I wanted to go pro at the end of the season. I'm happy that now I have that clear pathway to make it happen," she underlined.

The fact that the Q-School is giving the participating ladies a chance to take their game to the next level at the Sunshine Ladies Tour is such a huge step for Gachaga, who is ready for the lofty challenge.

"I want to be that top lady  who will punch this ticket in the tournament,” Gachaga, who has featured for the national team for over a decade, reiterated

“Even though Day 1 was not kind to me. I'm very hopeful to bounce back and make the cut on Day 2, and even proceed to land a respectable finish on Thursday’s finals.

“It would be amazing if I win that slot because I want to test my golf skills against the best of the best across the world.

“The Sunshine Ladies Tour and LET are the places where I want to be playing very consistently, that's my goal and I will be much happy if I get that chance to glob trot the world," she explained.

Even though she has targets in the ongoing Q-School contest, Gachaga is quick to admit that she did not prepare well for the Naivasha showpiece as she only came to realize that the tournament was also accommodating ladies last Thursday.

" But I didn't want to put too much pressure as I embarked on the preparation for the championship. So, I only prepared myself mentally, but I'm already having fun here and enjoying the moments, with great hopes that my dream of winning the ticket to the Sunshine Ladies Tour will come true," she underlined.

And why does she badly want to turn professional this year?

"Turning pro will allow me to make golf my job and comfortably play in the Tours across the world. I want my job to be something that I like, and golf has forever been my love," the 24-year-old national team sensation underscored.

Asked what she feels can be done to improve the Sunshine Development Tour, Gachaga stated: " So far everything is going on well at the Q-School, no hiccups at all. I think from next year, the Tour will be much clearer to the golfers and Kenyans at large.

“I will be very excited to play in the East Africa Swing Series if I qualify, especially in the Ugandan legs because I have never visited that country," she highlighted.

Gachaga's ultimate dream in golf is to represent Kenya at the Olympics, and she is hopeful that the Tour will earn her the needed vital points that will proper her for the heights of the Summer Games.

Gachaga is appealing to the Government to help bring back the LET event that used to be hosted at the Vipingo Ridge in Kilifi, saying the tournament was giving Kenyan women hope and opportunities in the sport, especially chances to play with other world beaters at home and abroad.

"LET was going to build our golf, I took part in it last year, and I felt the difference. I think there are top ladies in this country who need that opportunity, where they can play well and have a chance to go outside the country to improve their game," she underlined.

Some of the benefits Gachaga has gained from embracing golf as a career includes earning a a scholarship to the US where she graduated from college in 2023, travelling across the US, Europe and Africa to play the game, networking and being equipped with etiquette and skills that have made her mature in the game at such a young age.

"Even though I'm just 24, I feel I have been in this golf business for a very long time," she said.

Her message to those who want to embrace golf: "There is so much more you can do with the sport, especially now that we have the Sunshine Development Tour, which is giving our pros opportunities to play more tournaments as they prepare for the Magical Kenya Open next year. Golf is a wonderful but challenging sport that’s quite enjoyable.”