The Kibugu brothers, Njoroge and Mutahi, were neck and neck at the close of the first round of the seventh leg of the PGK Equator Tour at Sigona Golf Club on Thursday.
The younger Njoroge picked up four birdies, blighted by two bogeys at the front nine for a score of three under par 69.
His senior sibling Mutahi could have stormed to the lead, but an awful seven at the par four-18th, in addition to other bogeys at the 11th, 12th, and 13th, put paid to that outcome. He rolled in a total of seven birdies to close the day on two under par 70.
Senior pro Dismas Indiza was breathing hard down the backs of the duo, with a one under par 71. The Kakamega-based Indiza tied on the day with Karen’s Edwin Mudanyi.
Lying joint fifth on level par 72 were Samuel Njoroge, Daniel Nduva, Jeff Kubwa, Ken Abuto, and one of the tournament favourites, Greg Snow.
Two home players, John Wangai and Mohit Mediratta, fired one over par 73 each to keep tabs on the leaders.
A hefty purse of Sh1.5 million is at stake in the event, in addition to 2026 Magical Kenya Open qualifier points.
Kenya’s number one amateur
Meanwhile, fresh from Antananarivo Madagascar, where he spearheaded Kenya to their fourth back-to-back victory in the Africa Region Four Championship, John Lejirmah will be at home at Royal Nairobi Golf Club as he tries to add the Uhuru Shield to his rich collection of titles in the Kenya Golf Championship (KAGC) Series.
Lejirmah, who captained Kenya in Madagascar, is among a star field drawn for the 30th leg of the KAGC series.
At stake is Sh500,000 in prize money, with the winner taking home Sh115,000.
The last time Lejirmah, Kenya’s number one amateur player, was on the par 72 course at Royal, was on October 14, 2025 during the Sunshine Development Tour East Africa Swing.
Then, he beat pro Njoroge Kibugu in a dramatic, sudden-death play-off.
“The course at the moment is a bit dry, and balls are running extra miles. All the same, my game plan is simple, staying patient, trusting my preparation, and enjoying every shot’’ said Lejirmah.
The top amateur, who is chasing his ninth victory in the series, will clash with his arch-rival and defending champion Michael Karanga of Windsor, national teammate Elvis Muigua, Ugandan Joseph Reagan Akena, and Rwanda’s Felix Dusabe.
