How calm Jarvis came, saw and bagged Sh60m in just four days
Golf
By
Ochieng Oyugi
| Feb 23, 2026
Casey Jarvis of South Africa is the new Magical Kenya Open champion.
The 22-year-old, who held on to the lead in all four days, carded a total of four rounds of 25 under par 255 to lift the 57th edition of the tournament at the par 70 Karen Country Club in Nairobi yesterday evening.
The feat saw Jarvis, ranked 195th globally, walk home with the Sh60 million overall winner’s prize.
President William Ruto, who graced the final, which was twice halted by incessant rains, handed him the trophy.
“It’s really great to register my first DP Tour victory on African soil. It’s even greater to receive the trophy in the presence of my father, who is my mentor and number one fan. He was my coach and caddy in this tournament,” Jarvis told Standard Sports.
“It was really special to do this in front of my father. I have no words to describe how I am feeling right now. I also wish my mother were here too, to witness this crowning. Unfortunately, she is back home in the United Kingdom,” added Jarvis, who ended the final day on eight under par 62 after nailing two eagles and six birdies on the soggy Karen fairways.
Davis Bryant of the USA was second on 22 under par 258 after firing six under par 64 on the final day, on which he was blemish-free.
He coupled the score with six birdies. The 26-year-old, who is ranked 289 globally and 81 in the Race To Dubai, went home Sh39 million richer.
Sealing the podium was another South African, Du Plessis Hennie, who was synonymous with a birdie-minting spree in the tournament that leap-frogged him from the basement to the top three.
Hennie carded five under par 65 on the last round, which was characterised by an eagle, six birdies, a bogey and a double bogey to take his total scores to 21 under par 259 for the four days. This earned him third place, whose prize money was Sh22 million.
Kenyan golf poster boy Njoroge Kibugu rose to the occasion in the last round to have a blemish-free day, raking in five birdies scored in the par-4 1st, par-4 11th, par-4 12th, par-3 14th and par-5 18th.
Njoroge fired five under par 65 to finish the tournament strong on a total of four rounds of six under par 274, which settled him in 61st place overall, where he jointly tied with four other players.
Njoroge’s feat was rewarded by President William Rut,o who gave him Sh5 million, while Absa Bank Kenya topped it up with Sh2 million for making the cut in the championship.
Concerning his good run on Sunday, Njoroge said, “It was a good day today. I had enough strength after resting well the night before the final. I had the energy, focus and clarity that helped me to escape mistakes in all the holes.”
Njoroge admitted that the disruptions caused by the rains in Karen twice on the final day slowed his pace on resumption, but nonetheless, he managed to soldier on.
“It was a bit tough coming back; my body was a bit slow. I needed some guidance for the shots, but I just knew I had to soldier on to make a respectable finish,” he said.
Njoroge noted that his impressive performance in the MKO really meant a lot to the other 17 Kenyans who failed to make the cut in the tournament.
“Even though many of us failed to make it to the money bracket, it is now apparent that Kenya is headed in the right direction in the sport.”
“This year, we build up our progress ahead of the MKO through the Equator Tour and the Sunshine Development Tour- East Africa Swing series, and many more of such circuits should come along in the course of the year to help us prepare for next season,” he said.
Njoroge added that his good relationship with his caddy played a key role in his qualification in the MKO