-At stake is a Ksh. 2 million prize purse for the tournament to be played over 54 holes with a cut after round two allowing only the top 30 players to proceed to the final round.
MAARUFU MOHAMED-GOLFNEWSLINKS.
A strong field of 105 players from six Nationalities namely Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi and South Africa are set to tee off at Ruiru Sports Club in Kenya from Monday, June 9th, to Wednesday 11th, for the second leg of the Sunshine Development Tour-East Africa Swing following a successful opener at Thika Greens Golf Resort last week.
The tournament features a mixed field of men and women bringing together top Professionals and elite Amateurs from across the region as they compete not just for the title but also earn valuable Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points which offer Golfers a pathway to global Golf opportunities.
Leading the star-studded field is Njoroge Kibugu of Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club who arrives at Ruiru riding high after an impressive victory at Thika Greens.
Kibugu carded rounds of 64 gross, 70 gross, and 67 gross to finish on 15-under par and taking home the Ksh. 400,000 winner’s cheque.
“Last week’s win was a big confidence boost. It showed me that the work we’ve put in is paying off, but it’s a long season and I know I have to stay sharp. Ruiru is a different course and so I’ll need to adjust and keep trusting the process. I’m looking forward to keeping the momentum going, “said Njoroge.
Among those seeking to stop Kibugu’s winning streak is Kigali Golf Club’s Celestin Nsanzuwera who finished runner-up at Thika Greens with an equally impressive 10-under par total.
Nsanzuwera who also won the East Africa Swing Q-School event has been steadily building form and is expected to mount another strong challenge.
“I feel my game is improving with every round,” said Celestin. “I pushed hard at Thika and came close. Ruiru presents a new opportunity. I’ll be aiming to play smart, stay aggressive where possible, and generally play to my strengths. The tour has been a great platform for us, and I’m excited to see how far we can go.”
Also in the mix is Michael Karanga, Kenya’s top-ranked Amateur from Ndumberi Golf Club who impressed with a top 10 finish at Thika and will be teeing off in a marquee group alongside Nsanzuwera and Kakamega Golf Club’s Dismas Indiza.
“Playing against top pros last week was a great learning experience. I’m happy with how I played and I believe I can compete again this week. Ruiru is familiar territory, so I’ll look to take advantage and keep improving my game,” said Karanga.
Other top Kenyan names to look out for include the likes of John Wangai who also impressed at Thika carding a total of 8-under par total of 208 gross to claim the third spot on the leaderboard.
Others are Mutahi Kibugu, David Wakhu, Simon Ngige, Jacob Okello, Nelson Simwa, Edwin Mudanyi, and Dismas Indiza, alongside a host of top amateurs including John Lejirma, Daniel Kiragu, and Vipingo’s Naom Wafula.
Naom Wafula will be joined by a strong field of six other lady Golfers adding to the competitive depth of the tournament.
They include Mercy Nyanchama, Margaret Njoki, Jacqueline Walter, Joyce Wanjiru, Bianca Ngecu, and Kellie Gachaga, each bringing strong credentials to the field.
The Ruiru leg will also feature a strong regional presence, apart from Nsanzuwera, the draw includes Didas Ndindabahizi, Alain Niyonkuru, and Alloys Nsabimana also from Kigali Golf Club.
Others are Ronald Rugumayo, Ronald Otile, Kasozi Phillip, and Hussein Bagalana of Uganda Golf Club, Elisante Lembris from Arusha Gymkhana and Isaac Wanyeche from Kilimanjaro Golf Club in Tanzania will also be on contention.
Also featuring are Dunia Isiaka, Fadhyl Nkya, Molle Nuru, Frank Mwinuka, and Abdallah Yusuf of Lugalo Golf Club.
Abraham Ainamani of Palm Valley Country Club in Uganda, Salum Nkurunziza of Bujumbura Golf Club in Burundi and Evence Vukeya of South Africa’s Soweto Country Club.
The Sunshine Development Tour-East Africa Swing launched earlier this year provides a high-level competitive platform for Professionals and elite Amateurs in the region offering Sunshine Tour points, Big Easy Tour exemptions, and Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points.
Sunshine Development Tour-East Africa Swing Tournament Director David Kihara expressed excitement about the second leg.
“We were thrilled with the level of competition at Thika Greens. Ruiru Sports Club presents a different test from Thika Greens, and we are excited to see how the players respond. The depth of talent on display last week is a testament to the growing competitiveness of golf in the region, and we expect another thrilling 54 holes of action. This tour is about giving East African golfers a legitimate platform to grow and compete at global standards. We’ve seen how players are responding. There’s hunger, there’s belief, and we’re proud to be part of that journey,” said Kihara.
The tournament will be played over 54 holes with a cut made after round two allowing only the top 30 players to proceed to the final round and at stake is a Ksh. 2 million prize purse to be shared among those who make the cut.
Round one action tees off on Monday, June 9th, at 8:00AM with the first group featuring Felix Dusabe (Kigali Golf Club), Ronald Otile (Uganda Golf Club), and Richard Ainley (Nakuru Golf Club) and the final round is set for Wednesday, June 11th.
ENDS.
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