Premium
Kenya Open Golf: Njoroge Kibugu carries Kenya’s hopes as joint leaders tighten grip
Kenya's Njoroge Kibugu follows the progress of his shot from 18th hole during Magical Kenya Open Golf tournament on February 19, 2026 at Karen Golf and Country Club.
Kenyan golfer Njoroge Kibugu will be flying the country’s flag against the rest of the field in the remaining two rounds of Magical Kenya Open Golf Championship that will be played today and tomorrow (February 21 and 22) at Karen Country Club.
The Windsor Gold Club-based professional on Friday put up a brave fight to make the cut with an impressive five under par, halfway through the tournament.
Kibugu, 22, had carried a four under par score to Friday’s second round. He dropped two crucial shots at the 12th and 14th holes, having birdied the seventh hole at the front nine. However, Kibugu, who was followed by a big crowd that included his father Dan Kagwe, hit a brilliant driver and an excellent six-iron approaching shot at the 18th hole, to roll in a three-footer eagle putt. He closed the day with a one-under-par 69, which pushed him back to the cut. Just like in 2022, Kibugu is the only Kenyan who made the cut for the final two rounds of this year’s tournament.
“It is an unbelievable feeling getting back into the tournament, having dropped two crucial shots earlier. When I dropped those two shots, I knew the 18th hole was my last bet. I hit a good driver, which gave me a chance to approach the home green well.
My caddie wanted me to hit a five-iron for the approach shot, but I opted for a solid six-iron, which I hit well. Now that we are in, I will take it one round at a time,” Kibugu, who made his first cut in the tournament this year as a professional, added.
David Law tees off on the 17th hole during the Magical Kenya Open at Karen Country Club on February 19, 2026.
A total of 69 players, with four under par and better, the highest cut in the open after many years, on Friday went through to the final two rounds, which will be played today and tomorrow. Leading the field was South African Casey Jarvis, who shot five under par 65 for a two-round total of 13 under par. His final round included seven birdies, with two back-to-back bogeys at the fifth and sixth holes. He was joined at the top by Frenchman Frederic Lacroix, who played a bogey-free eight under par 62.
Following the two leaders closely were three players - Ricardo Gouveia from Portugal, Angel Ayora of Spain, and South Africa’s Hennie Du Plessis.
Frédéric Lacroix follows his tee shot on the 11th hole during the Magical Kenya Open Pro-Am at Karen Country Club on February 20, 2026.
It was a tough day for Kenya’s Edwin Mudanyi and top amateur John Lejirmah, both of whom closed the day on two under par total, missing the cut by two shots. Rwanda’s Celestin Nsanzuwera was a shot behind Mudanyi and Lejirmah.
“I had an awful front nine where I dropped four shots in a row, having started with two birdies,’’ Mudanyi, who finished with an eagle and a birdie at the 18th hole, observed. He had fired an impressive approach shot.
Kenya entered 12 professionals and six amateurs in the tournament, which attracted the strongest field ever since becoming a DP World Tour event. Of the six past winners, two - Guido Migliozzi of Italy and Darius Van Driel from the Netherlands - also missed the cut.
Follow our WhatsApp channel for breaking news updates and more stories like this.
