NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 24 – Ever since Vision 2030 embarked on an ambitious journey to support the course of regional golfers in the Magical Kenya Open (MKO), the impact has been phenomenon, by and large.
The Organization kickstarted an initiative to whip up the enthusiasm of golf professionals in 2021 in a bid to create an enabling environment in the run up to the fabled Kenyan showpiece.
In 2021, David Wakhu and Samuel Njoroge received Ksh. 600,000 each for making the cut in the DP World Savannah Classic and MKO respectively at Karen Country Club.
Savannah Classic was a one-off tournament sponsored by the European Tour ostensibly to ease travel restrictions for foreign pros by hold back-to-back events at Karen Country Club.
The following year, wonder-boy Njoroge Kibugu (then an amateur) got Ksh. 1,000,000 for his troubles, thanks to the Vision 2030 MKO initiative. Over and above making the cut, Vision 2030 has also supported Kenya team and regional professionals with a token to boost their preparations.
Young Kibugu, then 18, made all the local knowledge count at his Muthaiga course where he become the sole Kenyan in the money bracket going into the weekend. His fairy-tale performance was rewarded by handsomely, also as part of the noble initiative to promote junior talent.
This year, Ronald Rugumayo became the first Ugandan to make a DP World Tour cut, contrary to all expectations.
Rugumayo, who made the Magical Kenya Open slot as one of the two regional players from Safari Tour alongside Vistor Mapwanya of Zimbabwe, also made history this week as the first Ugandan to make the cut in Kenya’s premier showpiece.
Rugumayo holed a birdie putt on the final hole to make the cut at Muthaiga Golf Club and when he drew towards a close, the 31-year-old Ugandan created some fantastic theater to the delight of fans surrounding the 18th green at the clubhouse.
“I can’t express the feeling I have inside. I mean it’s just a surreal experience. My dream after the kenya Open is to inspire young people in Uganda take up golf,” said Rugumayo.
The footballer turned golfer also revealed what brought about a paradigm shift in his understanding of golf dynamics.
Rugumayo: “I started as a footballer together with my elder sibling but from around the age of 10, I succumbed to the lure of the greens and fairways. My thinking then was that soccer was a team sport and in golf you win as an individual, hence the paradime shift.”
