A New Chapter in Zambian Golf Excellence
For four days in June 2026, Nchanga Golf Club in Chingola became the stage for world-class professional golf as the KCM Golf Challenge brought the Sunshine Tour to the Copperbelt.
From 18–21 June, leading professionals competed on Nchanga's historic championship course, producing a tournament filled with dramatic finishes, exceptional golf, local pride and unforgettable moments. The championship ultimately went down to the final holes, with South Africa's Samuel Simpson emerging victorious at 18-under-par.
Samuel Simpson Seals a Dramatic Victory
Simpson delivered a spectacular final round of 66 to claim his third Sunshine Tour title.
The decisive moment came late in his round. An eagle on the 17th followed by a birdie on the 18th moved Simpson to 18-under-par and into the clubhouse lead, where he faced a tense wait as the final group completed their rounds.
Four players Pieter Moolman, Simon du Plooy, Oliver Goldhill and Haydn Porteous finished just one shot behind at 17-under-par, making Simpson's victory one of the closest finishes of the tournament.
The victory also continued Simpson's remarkable record in Zambia, following his 2025 Mopani Zambia Open victory and another strong performance at the 2026 Mopani Zambia Open the week before.
Celebrating the Team Behind the Champion
Golf is rarely won by the player alone, and the KCM Golf Challenge celebrated that partnership by recognising Simpson's caddie, Wes Hlope, who received the Sunshine Tour Winning Caddie Medallion.
The recognition highlighted the important role caddies play in professional golf—from course management and strategy to providing the composure and support required when championship pressure is at its highest.
Keagan Bwalya: Chingola's Homegrown Hero
One of the tournament's most inspiring stories came from Keagan Bwalya, a Chingola based amateur who earned his place among the professionals.
Bwalya opened with a 73 before producing an impressive 67 in the second round to make the cut. He went on to complete the tournament at 7-over-par, finishing tied 60th and, importantly, as the only amateur in the field to make the cut.
His performance gave local golf fans a player to cheer for and demonstrated the potential of Zambia's emerging golfing talent. For young golfers watching from the sidelines, Bwalya's achievement provided a powerful reminder that the journey from amateur golf to competing alongside Sunshine Tour professionals is possible.
More Than a Tournament
The KCM Golf Challenge was more than four days of competition. It was a celebration of golf, community and Chingola.
Nchanga Golf Club welcomed players, spectators, families, sponsors, volunteers and golf enthusiasts, creating an atmosphere that extended well beyond the competition itself. The tournament also featured a junior golf clinic that engaged more than 60 young golfers from across the Copperbelt, giving them an opportunity to learn from professionals and experience the game at an international level.
The championship also produced another memorable moment when Christiaan Burke recorded a hole-in-one on the 150-metre ninth hole, becoming the fourth player to make an ace on the Sunshine Tour that season.
For the people of Chingola, the tournament offered the opportunity to see some of Southern Africa's finest golfers competing on home soil while showcasing the city's hospitality and Nchanga Golf Club's ability to host professional golf at the highest level.
A Legacy for the Future
The 2026 KCM Golf Challenge added another important chapter to Nchanga Golf Club's long championship history.
From its establishment in 1936 to its decades of hosting major tournaments, Nchanga has consistently provided a stage where golfers can test themselves, compete and create lasting memories. The KCM Golf Challenge continues that tradition while opening new opportunities for young golfers and strengthening the connection between professional sport and the wider Chingola community.
As Samuel Simpson lifted the trophy after a thrilling final round, the tournament left behind more than a champion. It left inspiration for young golfers, pride for the people of Chingola and another memorable chapter in the story of Nchanga Golf Club.
Nchanga Golf Club est. 1936
Where Champions Are Made, and Memories Last.
Inspiring the Next Generation at Nchanga Golf Club
The 2026 KCM Golf Challenge was about more than professional competition. While some of Southern Africa's finest golfers battled for the Sunshine Tour title at Nchanga Golf Club, another important story was unfolding on the course the opportunity for young golfers to learn from the best and imagine a future in the game.
As part of the tournament programme, more than 60 young golfers from across the Copperbelt took part in a dedicated Junior Golf Clinic, giving them an opportunity to learn, practise and interact with Sunshine Tour professionals.
Learning From the Professionals
For the young participants, the clinic offered something that goes beyond ordinary golf practice. They were able to experience the atmosphere of a professional tournament while receiving guidance and encouragement from golfers competing at the highest level of the game.
The clinic provided an opportunity to focus on fundamental aspects of golf while encouraging the children to develop confidence, discipline and enjoyment of the sport.
At Nchanga Golf Club, we believe that exposure matters. Seeing professional golfers compete on our course and then having the opportunity to learn from them creates a powerful connection between today's young players and the possibilities that lie ahead.
Making Golf More Accessible
Junior development is an important part of the future of golf in Zambia. For a sport that has historically been perceived as exclusive, initiatives such as the KCM Golf Challenge Junior Clinic help bring the game closer to young people and demonstrate that there is a place for them on the fairways.
The clinic also complemented Nchanga Golf Club's wider efforts to revive and strengthen junior golf, creating opportunities for children to learn the game in a structured and supportive environment.
The club's commitment to junior development is part of a much longer tradition. Nchanga has previously produced and supported promising young golfers, demonstrating that with access, mentorship and opportunity, local talent can flourish.
A Lesson Beyond the Golf Course
Golf teaches lessons that extend well beyond the scorecard.
Patience, concentration, discipline, resilience, honesty and respect are all fundamental to the game. Introducing children to these values through sport can help build confidence and character that they carry into school, family life and their wider communities.
The clinic therefore represented more than an afternoon of golf instruction. It was an investment in young people and an opportunity to show them that their ambitions can take them further than they may imagine.
A Legacy of Opportunity
The KCM Golf Challenge itself attracted a field of 132 golfers competing for US$150,000 in prize money and Sunshine Tour points, placing Nchanga Golf Club at the centre of professional golf in Southern Africa.
For the young golfers watching and learning during the clinic, the tournament provided a glimpse of what competitive golf can become.
They saw professionals challenge one another on a championship course. They experienced the atmosphere surrounding an international tournament. Most importantly, they were reminded that every professional golfer once had to learn the basics.
The presence of more than 60 young golfers from across the Copperbelt made the clinic one of the most meaningful aspects of the tournament not because of trophies or prize money but because of the potential represented by every young participant.
Building the Future of Zambian Golf
The KCM Golf Challenge Junior Clinic reflects a shared belief that the future of Zambian golf depends on creating opportunities for young people today.
Nchanga Golf Club is proud to be part of that journey.
As a club with a history dating back to 1936, our responsibility is not only to preserve the traditions of golf but also to ensure that those traditions have a future.
The young golfers who stepped onto the course during the 2026 clinic may be beginners today. Some may become competitive amateurs. Others may simply discover a lifelong love for the game.
And perhaps, among them, is Zambia's next Sunshine Tour champion.
The future of golf starts with giving young people the opportunity to pick up a club, step onto the course and believe that they belong there.
Nchanga Golf Club
Where Champions Are Made, and Memories Last.
A Triumph on Home Soil
Nchanga Golf Club added another proud chapter to its long and distinguished competitive history after being crowned champions of the 2025 National Quadrangular Golf Tournament.
Hosted at Nchanga Golf Club in Chingola, the tournament brought together four of Zambia's leading golf clubs, Nchanga Golf Club, Chainama Hills Golf Club, Nkana Golf Club and Bonanza Golf Club for a weekend of team competition, camaraderie and high-quality golf.
For Nchanga, competing on home soil carried an added sense of responsibility. The club's championship course has a long association with major tournaments, having hosted events including the Zambia Open and, more recently, the KCM Golf Challenge. The Quadrangular provided another opportunity for Nchanga's players to demonstrate the depth and quality of golf within the club.
Four Clubs. One Championship.
The National Quadrangular format brings together four clubs in a team-based contest, creating a different challenge from individual stroke-play competitions.
Rather than competing solely for personal honors, players represent their clubs, with every point contributing to the overall team result. This makes the tournament as much about teamwork, strategy and club pride as individual golfing ability.
The 2025 field featured:
Nchanga Golf Club
Chainama Hills Golf Club
Nkana Golf Club
Bonanza Golf Club
The presence of four established clubs made for a competitive championship while providing an opportunity for golfers from different parts of Zambia to meet, compete and strengthen relationships through the game.
Nchanga Claims the Crown
When the final results were settled, it was the home team, Nchanga Golf Club, that emerged as national champions.
The victory was particularly significant because it was achieved in front of the club's members and supporters and against three highly respected opponents. Nchanga's success demonstrated the depth of talent within its membership and added another team title to the club's proud competitive record. ([LinkedIn][1])
The championship also reinforced something that has become increasingly evident in recent years: Nchanga Golf Club is not simply a historic venue for major tournaments, it remains a club capable of producing competitive golfers who can perform at the highest level of Zambian club golf.
A Celebration of Club Golf
While the trophy was the ultimate reward, the Quadrangular was about more than winning.
Team competitions such as this provide a unique opportunity for golfers to represent something larger than themselves. Players compete alongside their clubmates, support one another through difficult rounds and celebrate every contribution towards the team's final position.
For Nchanga Golf Club, the tournament embodied the values that have helped sustain the club for generations sportsmanship, friendship, competition, discipline and pride in belonging to a golfing community.
It also provided an opportunity for the club to welcome visiting golfers to Chingola and showcase the character of Nchanga's course and its hospitality.
Another Chapter in Nchanga's Competitive Legacy
Nchanga Golf Club's history is deeply connected to championship golf. Established in 1936, the club has hosted major competitions for generations, including the Northern Rhodesia Championship and multiple editions of the Zambia Open.
The 2025 National Quadrangular Championship therefore fits naturally into a much longer story.
From historic regional championships to modern national and Sunshine Tour events, Nchanga's fairways have repeatedly provided the stage for golfers to test themselves against strong competition.
The Quadrangular victory adds another achievement to that legacy not because it was won by a single individual, but because it was achieved as a team.
Looking Ahead
As Nchanga Golf Club continues to develop its competitive programmes, junior golf, ladies' golf and wider community initiatives, victories such as the 2025 Quadrangular Championship provide inspiration for the next generation.
For young golfers watching their club's players compete and succeed, the message is simple: there is a pathway from learning the game to representing Nchanga at the highest levels of Zambian golf.
The 2025 National Quadrangular Championship will therefore be remembered not only as a trophy won on home soil, but as another demonstration of the strength, unity and competitive spirit that define the Nchanga Golf Club family.
Four clubs came to compete. One club lifted the crown.
Nchanga Golf Club , National Quadrangular Champions 2025. 🏆⛳
Where Champions Are Made and Memories Last.
