Windsor Golf and Country Club professional Njoroge Kibugu delivered his best performance in the final round of the Absa Invitational tournament yesterday, winning the top cash prize of Sh400,000 at Karen Country Club.
The 22-year-old began the final round of the tenth and final leg of the Sunshine Development Tour East Africa Swing tied with Celestin Nsanzuwera from Rwanda.
Kibugu delivered a clinical performance, posting a final round of six under par (64) to clinch the title with an impressive 14 under par (196). This included seven birdies on holes six, nine, 10, 12, 14, 15 and 18, and a single bogey on the third hole. This result saw him beat Nsanzuwera by five shots.
Even before securing his fourth victory at the season-ending Absa Invitational, Kibugu had already earned his Sunshine Tour card thanks to his consistent performances and record-breaking number of wins. By winning the final leg, he also officially secured the Order of Merit title for the tour’s inaugural season.
“This one means a lot to me. Going into the final match of the season, I wasn’t feeling my best after the holiday break. However, I trusted my abilities and focused on creating opportunities for myself,” said the player.
“I putted well, stayed patient, and that made the difference. Winning the Order of Merit is a real reward for all my hard work. It gives me confidence and motivation for what lies ahead.”
This victory confirmed Kibugu’s position at the top of the final Sunshine Development Tour East Africa Swing Order of Merit. He finished with 1,497 points, having won four times.
Nsanzuwera, a top professional golfers in East Africa, finished second overall with a score of nine under par (201), after a final-round effort as he chased a third title on the Tour.
He got off to a strong start with birdies on the first and second holes, but then dropped shots on the fourth, fifth and 15th holes. He finished with birdies on the 17th and 18th holes, signing off with a final round of one under par.
Nsanzuwera ended the season in second place in the Order of Merit with two tournament wins during the campaign and amassing 1,317 points.
“I got off to a good start, but mistakes on holes four and five cost me momentum. I tried to play my game but a few missed chances proved costly. Nevertheless, finishing second on the Order of Merit is a strong result, and I’m proud of the season I’ve had.”
Limuru Country Club’s Taimur Malik finished as the leading amateur, producing a superb final round of five-under-par 65 to finish third overall on the leaderboard with eight-under-par 202.
“It feels great to finish this way. I struggled on the first day, but played really well in the second and third rounds. I hit the ball better today. I took advantage of my chances, which helped me finish strongly,” said Malik.
Meanwhile, Mutahi Kibugu finished fourth on four under par (206), while Isaiah Otuke from Vet Lab claimed fifth place on three under par (205).
Dismas Indiza, the senior pro, finished third in the final Order of Merit standings with 753 points. John Lejirmah, an amateur from Royal Nairobi, was fourth with 605 points, and Greg Snow finished fifth with 578 points.
Top performers advance to continental playoffs as the inaugural season of the Sunshine Development Tour East Africa Swing comes to a close. Attention turns to the Big Easy Tour Playoffs set for Modderfontein Golf Club in South Africa from January 27 to 29.
