Kenyan golfers ready to take Kigali by storm
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Reading Time: 3min | Tue. 02.09.25. | 16:56
The three-day, 54-hole stroke play tournament has attracted 121 professional and elite amateur golfers from 16 countries in Africa, Europe and North America
All is set for the SportsBiz Africa Golf Championship, the fifth leg of the Sunshine Development Tour-East Africa Swing, which tees off on Wednesday, 3 September at the Kigali Golf Resort & Villas.
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The three-day, 54-hole stroke play tournament has attracted 121 professional and elite amateur golfers from 16 countries in Africa, Europe and North America.
It will feature 25,000 USD (Ksh3.2 M) prize purse, alongside valuable Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points, and World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points.
Tournament Director David Kihara says preparations have gone smoothly and the course is in top condition to host the international field.
“I believe we are ready for it. The course is in great shape, really nicely manicured, and the greens are very fast. We expect they will be running at a speed of about 11. The rough is very rough, so the players need to be a bit careful about where they hit their golf balls," he opened up.
Commenting on the field, Kihara said, “We have a very strong, almost international field, with players from the UK, Canada, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa and, of course, from across East Africa. The weather should be perfect for golf; dry, a little bit windy, but no rain expected, so we are ready to go.”
Kenya’s Njoroge Kibugu, winner of the Ruiru leg of the Tour, is among the leading contenders for the Kigali event and says his confidence is high heading into the championship.
“Winning in Ruiru definitely gave me a boost. It showed me that my game can hold up under pressure. Every tournament is different, but I am feeling confident and motivated coming into Kigali. I just want to keep building on that momentum and give myself the best chance to contend again," he offered.
Reflecting on the quality of competition across the Swing, Kibugu added:
“The level of competition has been really high, which pushes me to raise my own game. One big takeaway is patience; you can’t force things out here, you have to trust your process and stay disciplined. I have also learned to adapt quickly to different course conditions, and I will carry that mindset into Kigali.”
Kibugu also highlighted the areas of his game he has been focusing on:
“I have been working a lot on my short game and putting, because that is where tournaments are often won or lost. I have also focused on course management, making smarter decisions under pressure. If I can combine those with the strengths in my long game, I will be in a good position.”
Kakamega Sports Club pro and Ruiru champion, Dismas Indiza, who has been one of the standout performers on the Swing, said he feels ready for the challenge after a good practice round.
“My preparation has been steady. I have been focusing on keeping my game sharp and making sure my putting is consistent. The practice round here in Kigali felt good, the course is in excellent condition, the fairways are tight, and the greens are very fast. I know it will demand accuracy and patience.
My goal is to stay solid from the first tee and put myself in a strong position going into the second and final days. It will not be easy because the field is very strong, but I feel confident in my game and I am looking forward to the challenge," he revealed.
The event also serves as a precursor to the SportsBiz Africa Forum 2025, a two-day annual conference in Kigali aimed at advancing Africa’s sports industry and building a stronger sports business ecosystem for sustainable development.
