Rising Star Cements Dominance

NAIROBI—Njoroge Kibugu secured a landmark third victory in the inaugural Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing, overcoming a challenging start to win the Betika Masters at VetLab Sports Club on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. The 21-year-old professional from Windsor Golf & Country Club demonstrated remarkable composure to finish with a tournament total of 10-under-par 206, securing a two-shot victory and the KSh 400,000 winner's prize from a total purse of KSh 2 million.

Entering the final day tied for the lead with veteran golfer John Wangai, Kibugu’s round began precariously with bogeys on the 1st, 5th, and 6th holes. However, he stabilized his performance with crucial birdies on the 8th and 9th holes. A commanding performance on the back nine, featuring four birdies, saw him card a final-round 3-under-par 69, reaffirming his position as one of Kenya's most promising golf talents.

“It feels great coming in off a playoff loss in the last SDT leg at Royal. I feel happy to get it across the line this time,” Kibugu stated after his win. “At the start, I had a few unlucky breaks, but I tried to keep my head in the game because I knew I was hitting the ball well.”

A Vital Platform for Kenyan Golf

The Sunshine Development Tour’s East Africa Swing, launched in March 2025, represents a significant development for professional and elite amateur golf in the region. As the only golf tour in East Africa offering Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points, it provides a structured pathway for players to qualify for major international events like the Olympic Games and the prestigious Magical Kenya Open, a DP World Tour championship.

A recent agreement signed on November 1, 2025, between the Kenya Open Golf Limited (KOGL) and the Sunshine Development Tour elevates the tour's status, allowing participants to earn Safari Tour ranking points. These points are the exclusive currency for qualifying for the Magical Kenya Open, making events like the Betika Masters critical for local professionals aspiring to compete on the global stage. The total prize fund for the 2025 Magical Kenya Open stood at $2.5 million, with the winner taking home $425,000, illustrating the vast financial gap between local tours and the elite international circuit.

Fierce Competition and Regional Talent

The tournament at VetLab showcased a competitive field of 72 players from across Africa and beyond. John Wangai, the current chairman of the Professional Golfers of Kenya (PGK), finished in second place with a tournament total of 8-under-par 208, earning KSh 214,000. Wangai, who played a steady, conservative final round, acknowledged that late bogeys cost him the lead.

Rwandan golfer Celestin Nsanzuwera also delivered an impressive performance, briefly holding the lead during the final round before finishing third at 7-under-par 209. His strong showing underscores the tour's role in fostering regional talent. Nsanzuwera won the tour's qualifying school event in April 2025. Top Kenyan amateur Michael Karanga continued his consistent form, finishing as the highest-ranked amateur and fifth overall.

Sponsorship and Future Outlook

The event was the seventh leg of the tour and the first of a two-part "Betika Masters" series sponsored by the gaming firm Betika, which injected KSh 5 million into the doubleheader. This sponsorship is vital for sustaining the tour, which is scheduled to include 15 events across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda in its 2025/2026 season. The tour continues with the next Betika Masters leg at Limuru Country Club from November 9 to 11, 2025.

For players like Kibugu, who burst onto the scene as an amateur at the 2022 Magical Kenya Open, the Sunshine Development Tour provides the consistent, high-level competition needed to hone their skills. His record three wins this season not only highlight his individual talent but also signal a promising future for Kenyan golf as the tour creates more opportunities for local players to gain international experience and recognition.