Big Easy Tour Feed

Cronje cruises to Big Easy Play Off victory at Modderfontein

Weather-forced delays did little to deter Daniel Cronje as he marched to a dominant six-shot victory in the Betway Big Easy Tour Play Off event held at Modderfontein Golf Club. Wednesday’s second round had to be suspended twice before play was eventually called for the day, no thanks to dangerous weather in the area. At 13-under par and with two holes to play in round two,  Cronje was already ahead of the field at this point, and had a healthy three-shot cushion. When the third round started, immediately after the conclusion of the second on Wednesday morning, Cronje was ready to pick up from where he had left off. A bogey-free final round of six-under-par 66 – characterised by four birdies and an eagle – took Cronje’s total for the week to 20-under par 196 while his closest challenger, Tristan Leonard finished the tournament at 14-under. "That was a lot of fun,” said an elated Cronje in the aftermath of his victory. “Anytime you take a nice lead into the final round; it’s quite stressful, so it was really nice that I was able to get the job done today. “I feel like this was some of the best golf I’ve played. You’ve tended to, in the past, make a few mistakes on the golf course. So, I went and cleaned it up this week and I think it showed on my scorecard.” Cronje’s dominant win at Modderfontein marked his second of the season, having claimed a win at Killarney Country Club earlier in the season. “I’ve won a few times now in the last couple of months,” reflected Cronje, also referring to victories he claimed on the Blu Label Bushveld Tour. “Winning is never easy but I’ve been putting myself in those positions and today proved that just being there in those positions in the last few months, helped me today and I was able to get it done.” With his win at Modderfontein, Cronje has now moved to second on the Order of Merit standings, led by England’s Joe Sullivan. Cronje knows this and also knows that that top spot can be his after The Final in March. “That’s sort of the goal,” he declared when quizzed about his ambition to win the Order of Merit. “Coming into the Play Off was trying to finish as high up as I can, and try to chase him (Sullivan) down. Obviously, this is a big step; a big stepping stone. I know there are some bonus points and there’ll be more points up for grabs at The Final. So, we’ll try to etch more onto that lead out there,” The Play Off event was the penultimate tournament of the season before the final. Only the top 40 players on the Order of Merit competed at Modderfontein and only the top 30 after that, will be eligible for the final which is scheduled for March. The Betway Big Easy Tour is the Sunshine Tour’s feeder circuit and enjoys the support of the legendary Ernie Els, among other patrons.

Cronje surges to the top in Big Easy Play Off

Dainel Cronje dazzled to an opening round of nine-under 63 on Tuesday, taking a two-stroke lead in the Betway Big Easy Tour Play Off event played at Modderfontein Golf Club. A bogey-free front nine of 31 set the scene for what was to follow as Cronje launched his challenge for this week’s prestigious title. “Not often am I leading after the first round, so it’s quite nice to be in the front from the beginning and I’d like to keep it that way for the rest of the week,” said Cronje after his round. “ "The front nine was good,” Cronje noted. “Honestly, I struggled in the first two events of the year, so I’ve been working with my coach and we found something this week and it showed on the front nine.It was nice to sort of continue that on the back nine. I’m very happy with today’s performance.” His back nine was just as spectacular. An eagle on 10 was followed by a drop on 12 but Cronje swiftly recovered; birdieing 13, 16 and 17 for a near-perfect round. “The bogey was frustrating; it was a three-putt, actually,” Cronje continued. “But, anytime you can make eight birdies and an eagle, a bogey here and there isn’t going to affect you too much. So, I’m very happy with the round today.” Two shots adrift lies Oliver Goldhill whose seven-under 65 was the second-best score of the day. His front nine was as solid as you’d expect, with a pair of birdies and a solitary drop. It was on the back nine, however, that Goldhill found his groove. Six birdies and no drops helped Goldhill to a 65 and to within arm’s reach of Cronje’s lead. “I couldn’t wait to finish the round because I’m quite sick at the moment,” said Goldhill after his round. “But, I got it going really nicely, greens are in good nick and I was putting nicely. I was quite happy to see a few putts go in. The last two or three months have been really consistent and I’m just trying to ride that wave. “I hope to get a bit better in the next two rounds but for now, I’ll just go home and get some meds in and go again tomorrow.” The Play Off event is the penultimate tournament of the season before the final. Only the top 40n players on the Order of Merit are competing at Modderfontein and only the top 30 after that, will be eligible for the final which is scheduled for March. The Betway Big Easy Tour is the Sunshine Tour’s feeder circuit and enjoys the support of the legendary Ernie Els, among other patrons.  

Bolton wins maiden Big Easy title at Ebotse

England’s Jake Bolton shot five-under 67 in the final round of the 10th Betway Big Easy Tour event held at Ebotse Links to total eight-under for the week, and claim a come-from-behind two-shot victory on Thursday. Bolton was two shots off the pace at the start of the final round and knew that a victory was within grasp as he stood over his ball on the first tee. A bogey-free front nine 32 set the tone for Bolton and the Englishman knew that an equally-consistent back nine would aid him greatly in his pursuit of his first professional win. Coming home, the 27-year-old Bolton showed patience and good timing as he navigated the homeward nine with some expertise; making two birdies and a single drop en route to career-boosting triumph. "This is my first pro win,” said Bolton after his round. “I turned pro in 2021 after the Walker Cup and right now, I’m just over the moon. I can't explain how I’m feeling at the moment. All the graft, everything that goes into the daily process to getb better, and finally I got over the line. “I knew I had ro get off to a fast start. I made an early birdie and madde an important par just off the second green and that kind of settled the nerves a little bit. And then, I just kicked off from there. Then, I sort of relied on my experience a little bit. I previously won as an amateur, so that kind of experience always helps when it's pressure time. Even though winning as an amateur and winning as a professional are different things, I kind of leaned on that experience and I got it done.” The pair of Oliver Goldhill and Andrew Williamson, who finished two strokes off the top and as runners up, will be gutted for not being able to get the job. However, they will both be encouraged by their respective efforts on the day. Williamson impressed with a near-perfect 65 to get it to six-under while Goldhill’s 71 was enough to hand him another second-place finish. Now, with this event being the last of the regular season, all eyes will turn to next week’s Play Off at Modderfontein Golf Club where only the top 50 players on the Order of Merit are eligible. Bolton has moved up to 22nd on the standings, Goldhill is fifth while Williamson is 26th. All three players will be at Modderfontein next week. The Betway Big Easy Tour is the Sunshine Tour’s feeder circuit and enjoys the support of the legendary Ernie Els, among other patrons.

Kibugu Crowned Order of Merit Champion in Inaugural Sunshine Development Tour Season

Windsor Golf & Country Club professional Njoroge Kibugu has been crowned the Order of Merit champion of the inaugural Sunshine Development Tour East Africa Swing, following a dominant victory at the season finale, the Absa Invitational Series, played at Karen Country Club. Kibugu, who began the final round tied for the lead with Rwanda’s Celestin Nsanzuwera on 8-under par, delivered a composed and clinical performance, carding a final-round 6-under par 64 to pull clear and secure both the tournament title and the overall Order of Merit crown. His final round featured seven birdies on holes 6, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15 and 18, against a single bogey on the 3rd, as he closed the tournament on an impressive 14-under par 196. The victory confirmed Kibugu’s place at the top of the final Sunshine Development Tour East Africa Swing Order of Merit, where he finished with 1,497 points following four tournament wins and top finishes during the season. He also walked away with KES 400,000 from the tournament’s KES 2 million prize purse. Speaking after his win, Kibugu said: “This one means a lot to me. Coming into the season finale, I wasn’t feeling my best after the holiday break, but I trusted my game and focused on giving myself chances. I putted well and stayed patient, and that made the difference. Winning the Order of Merit feels like a real statement and a reward for the work I’ve put in. It gives me confidence and motivation for what lies ahead.” Celestin Nsanzuwera finished second overall on 9-under par 201, after a determined final-round effort as he chased a third title on the Tour. He started strongly with birdies on the 1st and 2nd, but dropped shots on the 4th, 5th and 15th, before closing with birdies on 17 and 18 to sign for a 1-under par final round. His runner-up finish saw him end the season second on the Order of Merit with 1,317 points, having claimed two tournament wins during the campaign. Reflecting on his round, Nsanzuwera said: “I started well, but mistakes on holes four and five cost me momentum. I stayed focused and tried to play my game, but a few missed chances made the difference. Finishing second on the Order of Merit is still a strong result, and I’m proud of the season I’ve had.” Taimur Malik finished as the leading amateur at Karen, producing a superb final-round 5-under par 65 to finish third on the leaderboard with a total of 8-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 and was able to take advantage of my chances, which helped me finish strong,” said Malik. Mutahi Kibugu finished fourth on 4-under par 206, while Isaiah Otuke claimed fifth place on 3-under par 205. Zimbabwe’s Visitor Mapwanya produced the lowest round of the tournament, firing a 7-under par final round, to finish tied on 2-under par 208 alongside Greg Snow and Mike Kisia. On the final Order of Merit standings, Dismas Indiza finished third with 753 points, followed by amateur John Lejirma in fourth with 605 points, and Greg Snow in fifth with 578 points. The Sunshine Development Tour East Africa Swing concludes its inaugural season having established a clear competitive pathway for professional and elite amateur golfers across the region, with the top performers now advancing to continental playoff opportunities and Sunshine Tour qualification events. Following the Karen event, eyes now turn to the Big Easy Tour Playoff which will be held at the Modderfontein Golf Club on 27th - 29th January 2026. Following the event, the top 12 players on the combined East Africa Swing and Big Easy Tour Order of Merit will earn direct playing cards to the Sunshine Tour. Afterwards, the top 30 players from the SDT East Africa Swing and top 30 from South Africa’s Big Easy Tour will contest the Big Easy Tour Finals, scheduled for March 2026 in South Africa where 12 slots will be on offer to play at the Sunshine Tour Final Qualifying School for a chance to secure additional Sunshine Tour cards.

American Cherichella in three-way share of Big Easy lead at Ebotse

America’s Austin Cherichella played himself into a three-way share of the lead in Tuesday’s opening round of the 10th Betway Big Easy Tour event of the season, thanks to an eventful four-under-par 68 at Ebotse Links in Benoni. “I played well today; played smart golf, I felt,” noted Cherichella. “The pins were really tough out there in the corners but I played it middle of the green and the putts fell in. So, it was nice. “I took a putting lesson when I returned from the Christmas break and I think that helped a little bit. But, I kind  of came in this week with no expectations because I’ve been really struggling with the putter, so it felt really cool to see some putts go in.” Cherichella shares that top spot with Tristan Leonard and Bradley De Beer who were just as impressive on day one of this last regular-season event before the Play-Off and Final. Leonard’s near-perfect round consisted of six birdies and a double while De Beer had a similar number of birdies which were accompanied by a pair of unwanted bogeys. Just a single shot off the lead, amateurs Ethan Gough and Vuyisani Makama played themselves into a six-man tie for fourth. “This is my second Big Easy start of the season,” said Makama. “It’s a good experience ands it helps that GolfRSA can create these opportunities and give us invites to help improve the golf and see where we are against these big guys. “I felt like my first round was decent. I felt like the putter let me down a few times but overall, it’s been a solid day.” This 10th event of the season is the last regular tournament of the season before the Play-Off nd the Fianl. Only the top 50 players on the Order of Merit after this week’s event will be eligible for the Play-Off. From there, only the top 30 players on the standings will go on to play the Final where Sunshine Tour cards for the next season will be awarded to the top 12 players on the final Order of Merit. The Betway Big Easy Tour is the Sunshine Tour’s feeder circuit and enjoys the support of the legendary Ernie Els, among other patrons.

Snow Stays Cool to Lift Limuru Betika Masters Title

Muthaiga Golf Club’s Greg Snow secured his maiden Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing title after holding off a late charge from the chasing pack to win the Betika Masters at Limuru Country Club. Snow entered the final round with a commanding six-shot lead but endured a difficult day on the course, posting a 1-over-par round that significantly trimmed his advantage. His front nine featured bogeys on the 1st, 4th, 6th and 7th, with birdies on the 2nd and 9th offering brief relief. The pressure continued on the back nine, where he dropped shots on the 10th and 14th before steadying his round with a birdie on the 15th. The decisive moment came at the par-5 18th, where Snow produced a crucial eagle to close out the tournament on a total of 10-under par 206, securing a hard-fought victory. He earned KSh 400,000 for the win. Speaking after his win, Snow said, “I had a tough round today but I am glad to have pulled it off. It feels really great to have won my first title on the Tour. When I was tied with Celestin after the first nine, I was telling myself that surely you can't let this go. I was asking my caddy how the situation was as we went on and he guided me through the second nine. On the 18th I was lucky to hit the fairway after going to the rough, but I tried my best to commit to the shot and finish well.” Windsor’s Njoroge Kibugu finished second after a spirited final round. Kibugu opened strongly with three quick birdies on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th, but a triple bogey on the 6th wiped out his early gains. He recovered with a birdie on the 7th to make the turn at 1-under par. On the back nine, he added further birdies on the 11th, 15th and 18th to return a 3-under-par score and finish the tournament at 7-under par 209. Kibugu said: “I feel really well today because I feel like I hit the ball better than in the previous rounds. I got unfortunate on the 6th where I hit a triple bogey, but overall I am happy with the second-place finish and the fight I showed today, especially after that setback on the 6th. I feel like I did all I could today.” Kibugu took home KSh 214,000. Rwanda’s Celestin Nsanzuwera claimed third place after a steady and competitive final round. Playing in the same group as Snow, Nsanzuwera opened with a bogey on the 1st but immediately responded with a birdie on the 2nd. His eagle on the 9th briefly drew him level with Snow at the top. The back nine brought a mix of birdies on the 10th and 18th and bogeys on the 11th, 14th and 15th, leaving him at 1-under par for the round and 6-under par 210 for the tournament. He earned KSh 144,700. Nsanzuwera said after his round: “It’s not a bad position for me because I came with a plan of finishing top three at VetLab and Limuru, and I managed to do it. For today, I tried to attack and go for the win, but I couldn’t do it as my putter was off, and the pin positions were also tough. When I went tied for the top I didn’t even know because I wasn’t checking the scores, so I had no pressure from that. If I could have played better on the back nine, I would have taken it today.” The eighth leg of the SDT–EAS attracted 88 players from across Africa and beyond, all competing for a share of the Ksh 2 million prize purse, as well as Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points, World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points, and Safari Tour Order of Merit points, which are critical for qualification into the 2026 Magical Kenya Open on the DP World Tour. The Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing now moves to its ninth leg, scheduled for next month at the PGA-accredited Vipingo Ridge Golf Resort in Kilifi County. The season will then culminate in the Tour Finale in January 2026 at the Karen Country Club, where the top 30 players from the Tour will face off against the top 30 from South Africa’s Big Easy Tour. The finalists will compete for cards to earn promotion to the main Sunshine Tour.

Van Der Merwe secures Sunshine Tour card with third Big Easy victory

Jacques Van Der Merwe secured his Sunshine Tour card for this season in spectacular fashion after he claimed a come-from-behind victory in the ninth Betway Big Easy Tour event of the season, held at Krugersdorp Golf Club. Thursday’s triumph was the third of the current campaign for Van der Merwe and thus, as Tour regulations stipulate, a direct pathway to the main Tour of which the Betway Big Easy Tour is the feeder. Van Der Merwe started the final round at nine-under-par and a  stroke off the pace set by Andre Van Zyl, setting up what would be a sizzling final round. With Van Zyl struggling to maintain his momentum and eventually signing for an even-par round, Van Der Merwe seized the moment with a brilliant 69 to total 12-under-par 204. “Life happens quickly, hey”, Van Der Merwe mused, reflecting on his hat-trick of victories this season. “I was thinking about it four holes ago;  walking on the fairway and thinking how quickly things can happen, especially in this sport. If you work hard and forget about tournaments and results, things can happen on a blink of an eye. "Being in contention for eight weeks in a row and then missing two cuts, and then coming back, makes it way more nerve-wracking than it  usually is. I was definitely shaking a bit, but I’ve got that Delmas-boy confidence and I could deal wit it nicely.” With his win in Krugersdorp, Van Der Merwe became the first player to win thrice this season, marking a sensational season even before it ends next year. “It means a lot to me,” he said of his extraordinary achievement. “I don’t think that I would have been able to say I’d achieve all that by now. But if you work hard and focus on growth rather than the result, then the sky is the limit.” Van der Merwe also praised the Betway Big Easy Tour for carving out pathways for professionals to elevate their game and for the incentives with which success comes on this circuit. This ninth event of the season was the last tournament of the year before the Christmas break. The Betway Big Easy Tour is the Sunshine Tour’s feeder circuit and enjoys the support of the legendary Ernie Els, among other patrons.  

Van Zyl’s 66 helps him to the summit ahead of Big Easy final round

Andre Van Zyl weaved together a brilliant six-under-par 66 on day two of the Betway Big Easy Tour’s ninth event, getting his overall total to 10-under while pulling a shot clear of the field at Krugersdorp Golf Club. Wednesday’s second round produced some exciting golf, with players jostling for positions ahead of Thursday’s final round. Among those players was Van Zyl, who seemed to have found something he liked around this parkland layout. Following a solid start of four-under 68, Van Zyl showed glimpses of a brilliant player he is on Wednesday, rolling in putts as if it were nothing. He made a total of nine birdies, a double-bogey and a drop en route to his 66. "I was very good tee to green,” said Van Zyl. “I just made two stupid errors on eight and nine (his 17th and final holes of the round). On eight I hit a three-wood where I should have hit an iron off that tee. It was a good swing but I just hit it through the fairways and behind some trees. Then I chipped out and the ball spun behind the greens and I three-putted for the double. "So, I lost a bit of concentration on the last two holes. Other than that, I hit the ball extremely well; found many fairways and I hit them very close. I putted well for a change. A lot of positives from the round and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.” Van Zyl is fully aware of the chasing pack, led by the in-form Jacques Van Der Merwe whose 68 in round two catapulted him to second on the leaderboard on a tournament total of nine-under. “I like the course, it suits my eye,” Van Zyl noted. “I’ve been hitting the ball well but just can’t score, so for a change, things are going my way. Golf is coming easy to me at the moment so I’m looking forward to tomorrow. It’s going to be a challenge, but I can’t wait.” With two victories already this term, Van der Merwe is feeling quite confident of mounting a serious challenge on Thursday. “I’m definitely hoping for my third win this year,” declared Van der Merwe. “I’m feeling very confident this week, so, good luck to the other guys as well.” This ninth event of the season is the last tournament of the year before the Christmas break. The Betway Big Easy Tour is the Sunshine Tour’s feeder circuit and enjoys the support of the legendary Ernie Els, among other patrons.

In-form Sullivan in 4-way share of Big Easy lead in Krugersdorp

Joe Sullivan continued to ride his good form in the first round of the ninth Betway Big Easy Tour event at Krugersdorp Golf Club where his opening 67 left him in a four-way share of the lead on Tuesday. Fresh from his second Blu Label Invitational triumph of the season at Silverlakes Golf and Wildlife Estate just last week, the Englishman showed no signs of slowing down in Krugersdorp. Along with Vaughn Van Deventer, Dillon Germishuys and Jacques Van Der Merwe, Sullivan carded an impressive five-under 67 to be among the early leaders in this 54-hole event. The quartet will go into the second round with a single-shot lead over the duo of Kian Coetzer who seems to be enjoying a good run of form of his own, and Andre Van Zyl. Amateur, Hannes Strooh, also continued to impress on this Sunshine Tour feeder circuit, signing for a round of 69 alongside member of the Papwa Sewgolum Class, Lwazi Gqira, and Keagan Crosbie who is still finding his feet in the professional ranks. England’s Matt Millar came into this event with some confidence following his narrow loss to his countryman, Sullivan, last week. He shot an opening-round of 70 to tis the 10th position with Travis Ladner, Adam Breen, Therion Nel, Oliver Goldhill and Andre De Decker. They are only three shots off the pace and will be confident of making upward movements on the leaderboard in round two. Veteran campaigner John Bele shot a 71 which included a hole-in-one on the sixth hole. It was Bele’s fourth career hole-in-one and it came at a place he is quite familiar with. This 54-hole event is the ninth of the season and the last one for the year. The Betway Big Easy Tour is the Sunshine Tour’s feeder circuit and enjoys the support of the legendary Ernie Els, among other patrons.

Gray and Pieters share early Blu Label lead at Silver Lakes

England’s Miles Gray and local veteran campaigner, Brandon Pieters will take a slim one-shot lead into the second round of the fifth and final Big Easy Blu Label Invitational after both players carded rounds of four-under 68 at Silver Lakes Golf and Wildlife Estate on Monday. Gray’s round of 68 featured three birdies, an eagle and a solitary drop while Pieters went round the Silver Lakes layout unblemished in the first round. “I’m really happy with my round,” said Gray after his round-one effort. “I played solidly and kept it in play; just one silly mistake where I laid up into a bunker but other than that, I played pretty solidly the whole day. “I think it’s really key that sometimes that from 120-130 yards you aim into 24 or 30 feet, which is hard to do mentally. But, if you can do that, I think you can put together a really good score around here. You’ve also got to make use of the par-fives here. I had a pitching wedge into two of them and a 4-iron into another, so you have to make use of the par-fives around here.” Chasing hard and within touching distance of the leading pair, Dillon Germishuys, Kian Rose, Kian Coetzer, Reece McKain and Louis Botha will be relishing the opportunity to unseat Pieters and Gray from the summit of the leaderboard. Last week’s winner, Daniel Cronje is in a seven-way share of the eighth spot which includes Oliver Goldhill, local man Drikus Joubert and amateurs Jandre van Niekerk, Romano Saincic, Rees Emanual and Ethan Gough. This 54-hole event is forms part of the five tournaments which the Betway Big Easy Tour is co-hosting with the Blu Label Unlimited Bushveld Tour this campaign. The event at Silver Lakes is the final tournament in that series of five. The Betway Big Easy Tour is the Sunshine Tour’s feeder circuit and enjoys the support of the legendary Ernie Els, among other patrons.

Greg Snow Takes Early Lead at Betika Masters as Sunshine Development Tour Action Tees Off at VetLab

Greg Snow took command of the leaderboard after the opening round of the Betika Masters at VetLab Sports Club, posting a brilliant 4-under par 68 to lead the 73 - player field at the seventh leg of the Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing. Snow, one of Kenya’s most experienced golfers, displayed his trademark composure and course management throughout the day. Starting off the 10th, he made a steady par before briefly stumbling with bogeys on the 11th and 12th holes. However, he quickly recovered with birdies on the 13th, 15th, and 18th to turn at 1-under. On his back nine, the Muthaiga Golf Club professional found his rhythm, adding birdies on the 1st, 4th, and 9th to close his round at 4-under par 68, two shots clear of a tightly packed field chasing him into Sunday’s second round. Speaking after his round, Snow said: “I started a bit shaky on the 11th and 12th, but I told myself to stay patient and keep trusting the process. The birdies on the 13th and 15th gave me momentum, and after the turn, I hit the ball really well. VetLab is in great shape, but it’s also tricky, so you have to think your way around. It’s a strong field with a lot of good players, so tomorrow I just need to stick to my plan and keep the ball in play.” Tied for second on 2-under par 70 was a group of four players, Njoroge Kibugu, Celestin Nsanzuwera of Rwanda, Grace Kasango of Uganda, and Mutahi Kibugu, each showing flashes of brilliance in a competitive opening day. Njoroge Kibugu, a two-time winner on the Tour (Nyali and Thika legs), played a composed round marked by moments of recovery. After starting with four straight pars, he dropped a double bogey on the 5th but immediately bounced back with four consecutive birdies to steady his round. On the back nine, he picked up birdies on the 12th and 14th while dropping shots on the 11th and 17th to close at 2-under. Reflecting on his round he said: “After the double on five, I just refocused and took it one shot at a time. I gave myself plenty of birdie chances, and I’m happy with how I closed. The goal is to stay consistent heading into the next rounds, there’s still a lot of golf to be played.” Rwanda’s Celestin Nsanzuwera continued his impressive form on the Tour with a solid 2-under par 70. His round featured birdies on the 5th, 7th, 9th, 14th, and 18th holes, with dropped shots on the 2nd, 4th, and 16th. He said after his round: “It was a good round overall. I hit my irons well and made some good putts. I was pleased with how I managed my approach shots. Tomorrow I’ll just try to build on this and stay under par.” Uganda’s Grace Kasango also impressed with his round featuring birdies on the 2nd, 6th, and 14th holes, and just one bogey on the 15th. Mutahi Kibugu, rounding off the 2-under group, played an eventful round featuring birdies on the 7th, 9th, 12th, 14th, 15th, and 18th but offset by bogeys on the 6th, 8th, 11th, and 16th. He said: “I was aggressive today, and it paid off in places. I made a few costly mistakes but overall, my game feels strong. I’ll fine-tune my short game for tomorrow and keep pushing.” Michael Karanga was the best-placed amateur after posting an 1- under par 71, finishing tied for sixth alongside professionals John Wangai and Edwin Mudanyi. Karanga, who has been one of the most consistent amateurs on the Tour, said: “Playing with these top professionals gives us invaluable experience. I had a steady round — a few missed chances here and there, but overall, I’m pleased. The Tour has helped us amateurs raise our game, and I’m determined to keep improving.” The Betika Masters at VetLab Sports Club marks the seventh leg of the Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing. The tournament offers Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) and World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points, as well as Safari Tour ranking points that count toward qualification for the 2026 Magical Kenya Open, following the recent Tour Recognition Agreement signed between the SDT and Kenya Open Golf Limited. The event continues on Monday, with the top 30 players and ties expected to make the cut for the final round on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 with action set to tee off at 8:00am.

Wangai and Kibugu Share Lead Heading into Final Round of Betika Masters, 7th Leg of the Sunshine Development Tour at VetLab

Kenyan pros John Wangai and Njoroge Kibugu will head into the final round of the Betika Masters, the seventh leg of the Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing, tied for the lead on 7-under-par 137, after an eventful second day of play at the VetLab Sports Club. Wangai produced one of the standout rounds of the tournament, firing an impressive 6-under-par 66 to climb up the leaderboard. Teeing off from the 10th, the Sigona Golf Club player picked up four straight birdies on the 12th, 13th,14th, and 15th holes, dropped a shot on the 16th, and added another birdie on the 18th. On his return nine, Wangai kept his momentum going with back-to-back birdies on the 1st and 2nd holes, dropped a shot on the 3rd, but closed strongly with another birdie on the 6th to complete a round of 6-under par, the lowest score of the day. Reflecting on his performance, Wangai said, “Today I hit the ball well off the tee and my putting was very good. I started on the back nine and on this course holes 9 and 10 are very tight but I held steady, then went on to hit four back-to-back birdies from hole number 12 and that gave me momentum. He added, “I have been shooting rounds of under par before but I have not been able to get it to the top to be able to win. When I saw I could shoot under par I continued working hard and this is a show that I could be coming for a win and that is my target.” On the pressure of heading to the final round atop the leaderboard, Wangai said, “I have been on the lead where there is pressure many times before so I will just keep myself calm and enjoy the round tomorrow. I will keep it the way it was today, no much changes. Irrespective of whether I win or not, if I play six under par tomorrow it will be a good round for me.” Sharing the top spot is Njoroge Kibugu, who carded another solid round of 4-under par 68 to keep himself firmly in contention for what would be his record third Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing title. Kibugu had a stellar front nine, carding a birdie on the 3rd and a brilliant eagle on the 7th to turn in an impressive 33. On the back nine, he maintained his composure, picking up birdies on the 12th and 15th to finish his day tied for the lead on 7-under par. Speaking after his round, Njoroge said, “It was a tough day and I had to stay patient, dealing with a stomach upset but I kept it together and I am happy with the way I kept it together. I was hitting a lot of greens but I was being conservative to retain my energy.” I plan to stay patient, same as today, and I believe the birdies will fall. I hope to give myself opportunities by hitting greens to hopefully come out on top. Being ahead is good for me, and pressure is a privilege, and I am happy to be in this position. My goal is to keep doing what I have been doing and hopefully I can come out with a win Just one shot behind the pair is Rwanda’s Celestin Nsanzuwera who continued his impressive run, carding 4-under par 68 for a tournament total of 6-under par 138, just one shot off the lead. His round featured birdies on the 1st, 6th, and 7th holes, offset by bogeys on the 3rd and 5th. On the turn, he found further success with birdies on the 10th, 14th, and 15th to keep himself well within reach of the leaders. Speaking after his round, Nsanzuwera said: “Today’s round was good. I corrected some of my mistakes from yesterday. I hit more fairways and my putting was much better. My plan for the final day is to stay consistent, hit fairways, and putt well. I actually prefer being the one chasing rather than being chased, it takes off some pressure, so let’s see how tomorrow goes.” Veteran pro Dismas Indiza from Kakamega Sports Club sits in fourth place after a fine round of 5-under par 67, taking his total to 5-under par 139. Indiza’s round included birdies on the 4th, 7th, 10th, 14th, 15th, 16th, and 18th holes, with his only blemishes coming on the 11th and 12th. Tied for fifth are David Wakhu of Golf Park and Greg Snow of Muthaiga Golf Club, both finishing the day at 3-under par 141. Wakhu’s round featured birdies on the 1st, 9th, 13th, 15th, and 18th holes, with only two bogeys on the 7th and 10th for a 3-under par 69 finish. Snow, who had started the day as the overnight leader, found the going tougher in round two. His front nine saw bogeys on the 2nd, 3rd, and 8th with a single birdie on the 5th. On the back nine, he recovered with birdies on the 11th and 12th, but further bogeys on the 14th and 16th saw him close on 1-over par 73, dropping him down to tied fifth. Vipingo Ridge Golf Resort’s Naom Wafula was the only female golfer to make the cut, further continuing her impressive form on the tour since turning professional. A total of 30 players have made the cut to play in Tuesday’s final round, where they will battle for the Betika Masters title, and a share of the Ksh 2 million prize purse of which the winner will take home a sumptuous Ksh. 400,000. In addition to this, the players will be aiming to earn crucial Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), and World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) which are crucial for progression into major tournaments. In addition to this, the players will also earn Safari Tour Order of Merit points, all counting towards qualification for the 2026 Magical Kenya Open. The Betika Masters at VetLab is the seventh leg of the Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing, sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour of South Africa, and supported by Betika as title sponsor. The tournament is also supported by EABL’s Johnnie Walker brand, Pure Travel, Magical Kenya, The Golf Company.

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