A strong field of 105 golfers from six countries—Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi, and South Africa—is set to battle it out in the second leg of the Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing, teeing off today, Monday, June 9, at Ruiru Sports Club.
The three-day tournament, running through June 11, features a mixed field of top professionals and elite amateurs, both men and women, competing not only for the title but also for valuable Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points.
These points offer participants a pathway to global golf opportunities.
This leg follows a successful opener at Thika Greens Golf Resort last week, where Njoroge Kibugu of Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club emerged victorious after posting rounds of 64, 70, and 67 to finish on 15-under par, pocketing the KES 400,000 winner’s cheque.
Kibugu, who leads the field at Ruiru, is keen to carry forward the momentum.
“Last week’s win was a big confidence boost,” he said.
“It showed that the work we’ve put in is paying off. But Ruiru is a different course. I’ll need to stay sharp and trust the process.”
Challenging Kibugu is Celestin Nsanzuwera of Kigali Golf Club, who finished runner-up at Thika Greens with a strong 10-under par total.
Nsanzuwera, who also claimed victory at the East Africa Swing Q-School event, is expected to pose a serious threat.
“I feel my game improving with every round,” said Nsanzuwera.
“Ruiru is another opportunity. I’ll be looking to stay smart, play aggressive where I can, and stick to my strengths. This tour is a great platform, and I’m excited to see how far we can go.”
Also in contention is Michael Karanga, Kenya’s top-ranked amateur from Ndumberi Golf Club, who finished inside the top 10 at Thika.
He tees off in a high-profile group alongside Nsanzuwera and seasoned pro Dismas Indiza of Kakamega Golf Club.
“Playing against the pros last week was a great experience,” said Karanga.
“Ruiru is familiar ground, and I hope to use that to my advantage and keep building on my game.”
Among the other top Kenyan contenders are John Wangai, who finished third at Thika with an 8-under par total of 208.
Other are Mutahi Kibugu, David Wakhu, Simon Ngige, Jacob Okello, Nelson Simwa, Edwin Mudanyi, and Dismas Indiza.
Elite amateurs including John Lejirma, Daniel Kiragu, and Naomi Wafula of Vipingo Ridge will also feature.
Wafula will lead a strong contingent of female golfers including Mercy Nyanchama, Margaret Njoki, Jacquelyne Walter, Joyce Wanjiru, Bianca Ngecu, and Kellie Gachaga, further enriching the competitive field.
The tournament also boasts a strong regional representation, with Rwanda’s Didas Ndindabahizi, Alain Niyonkuru, and Aloys Nsabimana joining Nsanzuwera.
Uganda’s Ronald Rugumayo, Ronald Otile, Kasozi Phillip, Hussein Bagalana, and Abraham Ainamani; Tanzania’s Elisante Lembris, Isaac Wanyeche, Dunia Isiaka, Fadhyl Nkya, Molle Nuru, Frank Mwinuka, and Abdallah Yusuf; Burundi’s Salum Nkurunziza; and Evence Vukeya from South Africa’s Soweto Country Club will also be competing.
The Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing, launched earlier this year, provides a high-caliber competitive platform for regional golfers, offering Sunshine Tour points, Big Easy Tour exemptions, and OWGR points.
Tournament Director David Kihara expressed excitement ahead of the Ruiru leg, saying they were thrilled with the high level of competition at Thika Greens last week.
“Ruiru Sports Club offers a different challenge, and we’re eager to see how the players respond. The depth of talent we witnessed last week is a testament to the growing strength of golf in East Africa,” he said.
“This tour is about giving regional golfers a legitimate platform to grow and compete on the global stage. There’s a real sense of hunger and belief among the players, and we’re proud to support that journey,” Kihara added.
The tournament will be played over 54 holes, with a cut after round two that will see only the top 30 players advance to the final round.
Up for grabs is a KES 2 million prize purse, to be shared among those who make the cut.
Round one tees off today at 8:00 a.m., with the opening group featuring Felix Dusabe (Kigali Golf Club), Ronald Otile (Uganda Golf Club), and Richard Ainley (Nakuru Golf Club).
The final round will be played on Wednesday, June 11.