It was a close encounter on day one of the Johnnie Walker Classic, the sixth leg of the Sunshine Development Tour -- East Africa Swing at the par 72 Royal Nairobi Golf Club course on Monday.
Four players, Kenya’s top amateur John Lejirmah, Riz Charania, Njoroge Kibugu and Uganda’s Gaita Tadeo tied at the top of the leaderboard on two under par 70, a clear indication of how tough the three-round event is.
Playing his first major event since joining Royal in April, Lejirmah, got off well picking up birdies on the second, sixth, seventh and eighth with only a bogey at the fifth. And despite picking a late birdie at the 16th, two bogeys earlier on the 11th and 13th holes denied him a sole lead.
John Lejirma follows the progress of his shot from 16th hole tee box on day one of the Johnnie Walker Classic Sunshine Development Tour -- East Africa Swing at Royal Nairobi Golf Club in Nairobi on October 13, 2025.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
“I had a slow start, teeing off from the 10th. I struggled a bit with my putting at first — coming off a tournament in Nyanza where the greens were slower. It was a bit hard to adjust to these greens here at Royal. There’s always pressure playing at your home club, but for me I’ll just focus on my game plan and count on the support from the members of the club,” Lejirmah said.
Charania from Windsor played one under at the front nine, then dropped shots at the 10th and 13th, but made an excellent recovery at the back nine with birdies at the 14th, 15th and the tough 18th.
His clubmate Kibugu also made a good start picking up birdies at the second, fourth, and fifth, but closed the front nine with a bogey. He recovered one hole at the 15th but missed the green on two at the 18th, chipped badly, to drop from three under par.
Njoroge Kibugu follows his tee shot from the 3rd tee on day one of the Johnnie Walker Classic Sunshine Development Tour -- East Africa Swing at Royal Nairobi Golf Club in Nairobi on October 13, 2025.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
“The day went well, at least I managed to hit two under, with a few hiccups on the ninth and 18th, otherwise I was striking the ball well and I am definitely happy with my round. I liked my iron play today. It’s a lot better than recent times as I have been working with my coach, and its coming together now,’’ said Kibugu.
Gaita started the day with a bogey at the first hole, but picked up two birdies and an eagle three at the seventh. He closed the day with a bogey having dropped a shot also earlier at the 12th.
Finishing a shot behind the leaders, was a group four including the only female professional Naomi Wafula who was happy with her one under par 71. She tied with Mutahi Kibugu, Erick Ooko and Ugandan Grace Kasango.
Naomi Wafula follows her tee shot from 10th tee on day one of the Johnnie Walker Classic Sunshine Development Tour -- East Africa Swing at Royal Nairobi Golf Club in Nairobi on October 13, 2025.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
“I am happy with one under par. It was a great fight though, as I was two under after the first nine, but going to the back nine, I had a hole which messed me up, though I still held on to eventually finish with one under par,’’ said Wafula.
Another group of four tied on level par 72. They were amateur Sammy Mulama, senior pro Dismas Indiza, Tony Omuli and Railway’s Samuel Njoroge.
A total of 79 players from Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Kenya are fighting for the Sh2 million purse. The winner will walk away with Sh400,000.
