Sunshine Development Tour East Africa Swing
Brandon Moyo
A CLOSING one-over-par 72 was enough for Willy Deus to secure a one-stroke win over Njoroge Kibugu and David Wakhu at the Sunshine Development (SunDev) Tour Absa Invitational Series – Thika Green held at Thika Greens Golf Resort in Kenya.
Going into the final round sharing the lead with Mutahi Kibugu on six-under-par 136, Deus carded three birdies and four bogeys, with the effort enough to earn a slim victory and get the New Year off to a brilliant start. The Ugandan professional made a bogey on the second hole and followed it up with a birdie on the fourth. He then dropped another shot on the sixth, but recovered with another birdie on the seventh hole for an outward 35. After the turn, he added another birdie on the 12th before dropping shots on the 15th and 18th for an inward 37. In his opening two rounds, Deus had carded 68s. Njoroge Kibugu, who had earlier shot 70 and 68 in his first two rounds, closed with a level-par 71 which featured four birdies and four bogeys. Wakhu carded round scores of 69, 69 and 71 with his final round comprising four birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey on the 18th. For his win, Deus amassed 210 SunDev East Africa Swing Order of Merit points while Njoroge Kibugu and Wakhu got 144.60.
The SunDev Absa Invitational Series continues with the Karen Tour Final at Karen Country Club in Kenya which tees off on January 19.
| Position | Country | Player | Hole | R1 | R2 | R3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Willy Deus | -5 | 18 | 68 | 68 | 72 | 208 | |
| 2 | Njoroge Kibugu | -4 | 18 | 70 | 68 | 71 | 209 | |
| 2 | David Wakhu | -4 | 18 | 69 | 69 | 71 | 209 | |
| 4 | Greg Snow | -3 | 18 | 69 | 70 | 71 | 210 | |
| 4 | Ronald Rugumayo | -3 | 18 | 72 | 67 | 71 | 210 | |
| 6 | Celestin Nsanzuwera | -2 | 18 | 71 | 73 | 67 | 211 | |
| 6 | Dismas Indiza | -2 | 18 | 66 | 75 | 70 | 211 | |
| 8 | Mohit Mediratta | -1 | 18 | 69 | 71 | 72 | 212 | |
| 8 | Taimur Malik (a) | -1 | 18 | 68 | 71 | 73 | 212 | |
| 8 | Mutahi Kibugu | -1 | 18 | 68 | 68 | 76 | 212 |
SunDev Absa Invitational Series – Thika Greens Leaderboard
The final standings at the SunDev Absa Invitational Series – Thika Greens