Ronald Rugumayo, the first Ugandan to make a DP World Tour cut, has dedicated his fairytale performance to East Africa.
The Ugandan finished his four-day campaign in position 71st with a two-over-par 286 tournament total after rounds of 71, 73, 70, and 72, and with that a $3750 purse.
“It’s truly a magical moment that will be remembered in my country for ages. This is not about me or Uganda. It’s about East Africa as no Kenyan made the cut. So it’s celebrations for us all,” said Rugumayo.
He made DP World Tour history by becoming the first Ugandan golfer to make a cut. And he did it in clutch fashion with a closing birdie to shoot a one-under-par 70 at Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobi.
“Coming into this year’s Kenya Open, I had a few targets. One was to do more than just making the cut. But my success this year is not about the player, not about Uganda. I am honoured to represent the whole of East Africa,” said Rugumayo.
Rugumayo went into the tournament ranked 2,901st in the Official World Golf Ranking.
Darius van Driel claimed his maiden DP World Tour title in wire-to-wire fashion with a closing 67 at the Magical Kenya Open presented by Absa. An opening 66 set the tone and the Dutchman made just four bogeys all week in a 14 under total, finishing two ahead of England’s Joe Dean and Spaniard Nacho Elvira.
