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The Nairobian

Fairy tale: South African Jacques Kruyswijk as he wins 2025 Magical Kenya Open title

Golf

By Ochieng Oyugi | Feb 24, 2025

Kruyswijk fired four-under-par 67 yesterday to triumph on a total of four rounds of 18 under par 266, recording his first-ever DP Tour series victory.

“I’m happy beyond words. I kept the momentum to the end,” he told Standard Sports.

"There is no better gift than heading home (to next week's Investec South African Open Championship in Durban) as a champion. I will strive to keep up the faith,” he added.

The 32-year-old had a memorable outing on Saturday, leapfrogging from 52nd to the apex where he eclipsed Englishman John Parry from the lead going into the crunch Sunday finale where the duo was paired for the first time in the MKO tournament.

Parry had been so consistent in the game in the opening two rounds before three bogeys slowed his flawless run-on Saturday.

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For his feat, Kruyswijk went home Sh55 million richer as second-placed Parry (-16/268) bagged Sh35 million.

The four-day championship attracted 150 participants from around the world. For the second year running, no Kenyan made the cut to enter the money bracket, which had a total purse of Sh322 million. The remaining 67 participants were divided among themselves in order of ranking.

Former champions who fell casualties on the second day on Friday when the axe for the cut fell included tournament's defending champion Dairus van Driel of Netherlands, Sebastian Soderberg of Sweden (2016), Guido Miggliozi of Italy (2019), Justin Harding of South Africa (2021) and Ashun Wu of China (2022).

Also, Oliver Lindell of Finland, who made history at Muthaiga when he slotted a hole-in-one in the par-3 13th to walk away with a Ford Ranger Wildtrak in 2018, did not make the cut.

At the same time, three juniors; Mitansh Thacker of Sigona, Kevin Anyien of Golf Park and Kanana Muthomi of Windsor emerged winners of the Absa Bank Beat the Pro Challenge held at the par-3 13th and contested by 20 youngsters during the MKO tournament.

The juniors, between 12-18 years with a handicap index of 9.0, were allowed to compete with the international pros at the hole where their skills were also tested, and only the trio emerged winners. Their feats earned each of them an Absa Junior Account with Sh50,000.

"I will use the money to invest more in my golf, like buying equipment and apparels," said Muthomi.