The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
*⃣ Magical Kenya ⛳ Open at Muthaiga
Select results
✳ Driel 🇳🇱 66 69 68 67 270 (-14)
✳ Dean Joe 🏴 68 69 68 67 272 (-12)
✳ Rugumayo 🇺🇬 72 70 71 73 286 (+2)
Missed cut Friday
✳ N Kibugu 🇰🇪
✳ M Kibugu 🇰🇪
✳ Kamulindwa🇺🇬 7
Nairobi, Kenya | THE INDEPENDENT | Dutchman Darius Van Driel has this afternoon been crowned 2024 DP World Tour Magical Kenya Open champion after a 14 under par 270 performance at Muthaiga golf club.
Van Driel,34, carded a final round 67 today to seal a two-shot victory to claim a first career win on the DP World Tour.
He pocketed $425,000 (Ush1.6billion) for his victory on his 112th DP World Tour appearance, to beat a strong field.
Uganda and East Africa’s flag was flown by Ronald Rugumayo, who will return home with about 1% of the winners prize money, but will be as proud after making history as the first Ugandan to make the cut in a DP World Tour.
The 31-year-old from Kabarole, Western Uganda ended 71st on the final day of the Magical Kenya Open at the Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobi.
He played some stunning golf at Muthaiga that included 13 birdies, but an equal number of bogeys meant he endded on the tail-end of the battle for prize money.
Rugumayo said he hoped his performance and milestone will inspire a new generation of golfers in the region.
“Each and everything I’m doing right now, I’m doing for my country. My dream has always been to inspire upcoming golfers. I’d feel really great if in the next few years, I see more Ugandans and East Africans playing in big tours and doing even better than I’m doing,” he said.
Rugumayo is ranked 2,901st in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) and has previously participated in South Africa’s premiere Sunshine Tour.
This is his third go at the Magical Kenya Open as a professional, but he participated in the 2017 edition of the tournament as an amateur.
An historic week is complete for Ronald Rugumayo ✅
You’ve inspired a nation and whole continent, @RonaldRugumayo 🙌#MKO2024 pic.twitter.com/vAea8JauCd
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) February 25, 2024
Rugumayo is in Kenya as part of a team of 10 golfers being sponsored to participate in the tournament by Absa Bank Uganda alongside 9 amateurs who were the best performers during the Absa-sponsored Pro-Am tournament of the 2023 Uganda Golf Open.
While speaking to the development, Mumba Kalifungwa, Absa Bank Uganda’s Managing Director – who accompanied the team to Nairobi – said, “This is a significant milestone and a huge leap forward for Ugandan golf. As Absa Bank Uganda, we are honoured to have played a role in helping to turn this dream into reality because we believe that every story matters as part of our commitment to empowering Africa’s tomorrow together one story at a time.”
A message from Ronald Rugumayo 🙌#MKO2024 pic.twitter.com/C0JCQc22Vx
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) February 25, 2024
