Kenyan pro golfer Njoroge Kibugu says earning the Sunshine
Development Tour playing card is a major moment in his young career.
“It means a lot to be the first Kenyan to secure a Sunshine
Tour card. I am very grateful to the Sunshine Development Tour for providing us
with this opportunity, and I am excited to showcase my talent at the next
level. The Tour has been very important. At the moment, it is the only way to
get to a global tour apart from the Kenya Open,” he said.
This achievement shows young golfers what
is possible, he added.
“Getting this card proves that players from this region can
move up. For juniors coming up, they now see a clear pathway and that there is
something big to play for. On the main tour, my goal is to keep my card for the
full season and try to get into the top ten as many times as possible. If I can
get a win, it would be great,” he noted.
"I want to gain as much knowledge as I can. I
have played there before, and I believe I can do much better than I did. At 22,
my long-term goal is to reach the major tours like the PGA Tour, LIV, or the
Asia Tour.”
Kibugu, and Naom Wafula, secured the historic cards on
the Sunshine Tour and Sunshine Ladies Tour after strong performances throughout
the inaugural season of the Sunshine Development Tour - East Africa Swing.
Their achievements mark the first time Kenyan or East
African golfers have earned full tour cards to major professional golf
tours.
Njoroge secured his Sunshine Tour card directly by winning
three Sunshine Development Tour events this season at Thika Greens Golf Resort,
Nyali Golf Club and Vetlab Sports Club.
His consistent run has placed him firmly at the top of the
Tour standings and confirmed him as the first Kenyan and first East African to
earn a full playing card on a global professional tour.
For his stellar performance in the Tour, he has climbed
1,896 places on the Official World Golf Ranking from 3,508 before the start of
the Tour to 1,612 – making him the highest-ranked East African in the
world.
On her part, Wafula earned her card to the Sunshine Ladies
Tour after an outstanding season where she made seven out of eight cuts on the
Sunshine Development Tour.
She is currently ranked 18th on the Order of Merit and
is the highest ranked female player on the Tour. Her performances throughout
the season have confirmed her status as one of the region’s rising
professionals.
Wafula said the news was emotional for her and marked the
fulfilment of a long-term dream.
“For me to be the first Kenyan woman golfer to get a global
tour card through the Sunshine Development Tour is amazing. It has always been
my dream to play on a major tour and I was overwhelmed when I received the
news. I am grateful to the Sunshine Development Tour because it has given us a
chance to play high level competitions here at home and that has opened the
door for me to go international,” she said.
She hopes her journey will encourage other girls.
“I hope other young women will see that it is possible to reach international
platforms through this pathway. My goal now is to play in all Sunshine Ladies
Tour events next season and do my best in each.”
Speaking on the achievement, Sunshine Development Tour -
East Africa Swing Promoter Charles Gacheru said this marks a turning point for golf in
Kenya and the wider region.
