Rwanda's Nsanzuwera emerges top in Sunshine Tour qualifier

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. [SUNSHINE TOUR ] Kenya's John Lejirma finishes second as top lady golfer Joyce Wanjiru punches ticket to the Sunshine Ladies Tour. Top 10 finishers in the men's contest proceed for Sunshine Tour Qualifying School Final Stage in South Africa next week. 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 on Thursday. The in-form Kigali Golf Resort 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. Kenya's John Lejirma who finished second in the four day championship. [SUNSHINE TOUR] Lejirma was shaky on the nervy final day, carding +6/77 to close the 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 position nine and 10 which was 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. 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. Top lady finisher Joyce Wanjiru (Right) who punched a ticket to the Sunshine Ladies Tour Series from the tournament. [SUNSHINE TOUR] Wanjiru and Kellie Gachaga of Muthaiga were the only ladies who went past the projected cut in the championship that stood at +18. Nsanzuwera, who cherished his first ever victory on Kenyan soil, said: "I'm feeling excited. I'm so thrilled, both for my country, our players and my sponsors. I really 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 said 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 said. Lejirma admitted that it was not his day on the cutthroat final day as he was undecided and very shaky, especially on the front nine. "Some of the bogeys I got there demoralised 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 puts and the swings are all in order." The SDT East Africa Swing Final 10 to South Africa 1.Celestin Nsanzuwera (Rwanda) -4/280 2.John Lejirma par/284 3.Samuel Njoroge +4/288 4.Dismas Indiza +4/288 5.Greg Snow +4/288 6.Edwin Mudanyi +5/289 7.Njoroge Kibugu +9/293 8.Simon Ngige +10/294 9.Mike Kisia +11/295 10.Jastas Madoya +11/295 Players who have qualified for the Sunshine Development Tour- East Africa Swing Series 1.John Lejirma (a)- Royal 2.Celestin Nsanzuwera (Rwanda) -Kigali Golf Resorts 3.Dismas Indiza- Kakamega 4.Greg Snow- Muthaiga 5.Edwin Mudanyi- Karen 6.Samuel Chege- Railway 7.Jastas Asena Madoya- Great Rift 8.Ooko Erick Obura- Golf Park 9.Daniel Nduva- Nyali 10.Njoroge Kibugu- Windsor 11.Simon Ngige- Kiambu 12.Mike Kisia-Kenya Railway 13.Isaiah Otuke- Vet Lab 14.Hitayezu Jean D'Amour (a) Rwanda -Golf Park 15.Mohit Mediratta- Sigona 16.Michael Karanga (a)- Windsor 17.Jeff Kubwa- Royal 18.David Wakhu- Golf Park 19.Mutahi Kibugu- Nyeri 20.William Odek (a)- Nyali 21.Dennis Saikwa- Golf Park 22.Simon Njogu- Great Rift 23.Abraham Galgalo- Golf Park 24.Nuru Mollel (TZ)- Arusha Gymkhana 25.Marvin Kibirige (Uganda)- Mary Louise Memorial 26.Sullivan Muthugia- Ruiru 27.Daniel Kiragu (a)- Muthaiga 28.Sammy Mulama (a)- Golf Park 29.Isaac Wanyeche (TZ)- Kiligof Arusha 30.C.J Wangai- Sigona 31.Rafael Leming'ani (a) - Golf Park 32.Shem Orwenyo- Vet Lab 33.Krish Shah Beiju (a) - Vet Lab 34.Tony Omuli- Golf Park 35.Matthew Wahome - Nyali 36.Alfred Nandwa- Kenya Railway 37.John Karichu- Limuru 38.Rizwan Charania- Gogolf Academy 39.George Felix- Kenya Railway 40.Johnny Limb- Karen 41.John Timbe (a)- Nyali 42.Antony Irungu- Muthaiga 43.Josphat Rono (a)- Golf Park 44.Felix Dusabe (a) Rwanda- Golf Park 45.Ajay Shah- Windsor 46.Jacob Okello- Kenya Railway 47.Nsabimana Aloys (Rwanda)- Kigali Golf Resorts 48.Eugine Wafula (a) - Muthaiga 49.Andrew Chelogoi- Eldoret Club 50.Richard Ainley- Nakuru 51.Ross Valentine- Karen 52.Robinson Owiti- Vet Lab 53.James Muigai- N/A 54.Alain Niyonkuru (a) Rwanda- Golf Park 55.Kevin Anyien (a) - Golf Park 56.Joseph Karanja- Golf Park 57.Hesbon Kutwa -Royal 58.Dickson Barasa (a)- Nyali 59.Kalamu Choyo (a)- Nyali 60.Nelson Simwa - Vet Lab 61.George TheMburu (a)- Vet Lab 62.Salum Nkurunziza (a) Burundi- Bunjumbura Golf Week 63.Shileen Nanji- Nakuru 64.Peter K. Ndungu (a) - Royal 65. Ashley Awuor- 66.Jacquelyne Walter- N/A 67.Agnes Nyakio- Kenya Railway 68.Margaret Njoki - Golf Park 69.Joyce Wanjiru- Kiambu 70.Kellie Gachaga - Muthaiga

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