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The Nairobian

Sunshine Tour final: Rwandese Nsanzuwera best student as curtains come down on Qualifying School

Golf

By Ochieng Oyugi | Apr 03, 2025

Rwandese Celestin Nsanzuwera after lifting the Sunshine Development Tour- East Africa Swing Trophy at the par 71 Great Rift Valley Lodge and Golf Resort in Naivasha on April 3, 2025. [PHOTO/ SUNSHINE TOUR]

Rwandese hard hitter Celestin Nsanzuwera is the winner of the Sunshine Development Tour (SDT) East Africa Swing Qualifying School whose curtains came down at the Great Rift Valley Lodge and Golf Resort in Naivasha.

The inform Kigali Golf Resorts and Villas player fired two under par 69, for a total four rounds of four under par 280, to dislodge Kenya's John Lejirma of Royal Nairobi Golf Club, who had opened the finale on a four-shot lead, from the top.

Lejirma was shaky on the nervy final day, carding +6/77 to close the Q- Q-School on a total four rounds of level par 284.

Three golfers, Mike Kisia of Railway, home player Jastas Madoya and Isaiah Otuke of Vet Lab, had to proceed for sudden death play-off to determine positions nine and 10, which were eventually clinched by the first two in that order.

Top 10 finishers in the tournament punched tickets to the Sunshine Tour Qualifying School Final Stage set for Heron Banks Golf and River Resort in Johannesburg, South Africa, on April 8-11, 2025.

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The 10 East Africans will battle for the available 20 Sunshine Tour tickets in South Africa next week against a similar number of golfers from the South Africa Swing and other invited players across the globe.

At the same time, the sole ladies' ticket to the Sunshine Ladies Tour was clinched by the top lady finisher in the tournament, Joyce Wanjiru of Kiambu Golf Club, who fired +28/312 in the four rounds.

Wanjiru and Kellie Gachaga of Muthaiga were the only ladies who went past the projected cut in the championship that stood at +18.

While basking in glory, Nsanzuwera, who cherished his first ever victory on Kenyan soil, stated: "I'm feeling excited. I’m so thrilled, both for my country, our players and my sponsors. I feel so nice. I can't explain it. I'm happy about that. I hope I will continue with this good show in South Africa next week."

Nsanzuwera explained that he is going to stick to the same game plan in Johannesburg, saying: “I'm not going to change anything, because this formula is already working.”

The Rwandese hinted that being calm and sticking to his game plan made him close in on Lejirma in the last two days.

"He (Lejirma) was the one under pressure, since he was leading. It's always difficult to maintain number one than to be number one," he highlighted.

Lejirma admitted that it was not his day on the cutthroat final day as he was undecided and very shaky, especially in the front nine.

"Some of the bogeys I got there demoralized me. I was also tired. But congratulations to Celestin for emerging champion. He was wonderful and solid in the last two days," Lejirma said.

When asked how he is going to prepare for the final qualifiers in South Africa, Lejirma stated: "Going back to the drawing board, I'm going to work on my mental strength. That's where the problem is. Other departments like the putts and the swings are all in order."

The SDT East Africa Swing Final 10 to South Africa