Kenyan golfer Njoroge Kibugu, representing Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club, has secured his spot in the final round of the Sunshine Tour Qualifying School at the par-71 Heron Banks Golf and River Resort in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Kibugu’s consistent performance over three rounds placed him within the cut line, allowing him to compete for a share of the R100,000 prize fund and a coveted spot on the Sunshine Tour for the 2025/26 season.
Kibugu posted scores of 3-under par (68), 2-over par (73), and 1-over par (72) across the first three rounds, bringing his total to par (213) after 54 holes. His efforts placed him T41 among the top 50 players who advanced to the final round. The cut line was set at 1-over par.
Speaking about his journey, Kibugu expressed optimism about his chances in the final round. “It’s been a challenging tournament with weather disruptions, but I’m focused on finishing strong and securing my place on the Sunshine Tour,” he said.
Mixed fortunes for Kenyan golfers
While Kibugu advanced, Kakamega Golf Club’s Dismas Indiza narrowly missed out after struggling in the third round. Indiza was within the cut line through 14 holes but bogeyed four consecutive holes (15th to 18th), finishing with a score of 3-over par (74) and a gross score of 3-over par (216), placing him T64.
Kenya Railway Golf Club’s Mike Kisia finished T88 with a gross score of 7-over par (220), while other East African Swing qualifiers struggled to make an impact. Rwanda’s Celestin Nsanzuwera, who won the East Africa Swing Q-School event in Naivasha, finished T84 with a score of 6-over par (219). Jastas Madoya, Greg Snow, John Lejirma, Samuel Njoroge, and Edwin Mudanyi also fell short of advancing.
Weather Challenges Extend Tournament
The qualifying school faced interruptions due to rain delays, forcing many of the 129 golfers to play their rounds across two days. As a result, the tournament has been extended into Saturday for the final round.
What’s Next?
Round four action will tee off Friday afternoon and continue into Saturday morning. Following this event, attention will shift to upcoming East Africa Swing Tour events as players look forward to more opportunities to showcase their talent. For Kibugu and others still in contention, all eyes are on securing one of the top 20 spots to qualify for next season’s Sunshine Tour.
