Rugumayo challenging fellow golfers to exploit Sunshine Tour for better opportunities
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Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 31.05.25. | 07:10
The 32-year-old is among the 90 golfers who have confirmed their participation in the first leg of the tour, set for Thika
Uganda’s top professional golfer, Ronald Rugumayo, has urged fellow pros in Kenya and around East Africa to take advantage of the Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing to elevate their golf and boost their chances at international events.
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The 32-year-old is among the 90 golfers who have confirmed their participation in the first leg of the tour set to tee off on Tuesday, 3 June to Thursday 5 June at the par-72 Thika Greens Golf Resort through 54 holes for a stake of the Ksh2 million prize kitty.
“We have to take advantage of this new tour because at the end of the day, it is good for us and for the game in the region. When it comes to professional golf, the more you play, the better you get.
Over the years, we have not been playing enough, and maybe that is why we have not performed to people’s expectations at events like the Kenya Open. This tour is going to give us enough exposure to change that,”Rugumayo said.
For Rugumayo, returning to Kenya is always special. His memories stretch back to his days as a caddy to making history as the first Ugandan to make the cut at the DP World Tour’s Kenya Open in 2024.
He is a household name in the Sunshine Tour, one of the premier professional golf tours globally which officially expanded its footprint into Kenya and the East African region with the introduction of the Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing in March, where he has featured since the 2023/2024 season.
“I did not expect to be in Kenya at this time of the year having in mind that I play much of my golf in South Africa but it is a nice surprise that something good came up and it is something we have all been praying for.
I believe having a new tour on my calendar will make me busier this year and I hope more of this will come. Kenya is my second home and I feel great being here once again. When it comes to East Africa, Kenya without a doubt is the home of golf,” he reflected.
Further, the Ugandan called upon companies within Kenya and across East Africa to come on board and support the tour, arguing that it will be good for the golfers in the region.
“I also humbly call upon all corporates to come and join hands and support this tour. If you have someone you are supporting, keep supporting them—they are the ones who will raise the country’s flag high. This is a dream come true for the game of golf in our region and I thank the brains behind this tour for promoting golf here,” he said.
The winner at Thika Greens is set to take home Ksh400,000 of the total prize fund, with the second leg of the tour slated the following at the Ruiru Sports Club also carrying a similar prize kitty.
