By Phillip Orwa
Home golfer, Rwanda’s Celestin Nsanzuwera, delivered a masterful final round to claim the SportsBiz Africa Golf Championship at the Kigali Golf Resort & Villas, the fifth leg of the Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing.
Fresh from winning the SUNDEV EAST AFRICA SWING JOHNNIE WALKER CLASSIC that was held in Diani, whereby he pocketed Sh400,000 and 210 Order of World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points for his victory.
Nsanzuwera again took home USD5,000 (Sh647,250) of the USD25,000 prize purse for winning the SportsBiz Africa Golf Championship.
The Rwandan golfer, Nsanzuwera, showcased composure and class as he enjoyed home advantage to close his final round on 2-under-par 70, bringing his tournament total to 15-under-par 201 and sealing victory by a commanding five strokes.
His round included birdies on the 1st, 2nd, 8th, 16th, and 18th holes, offset by bogeys on the 2nd, 11th, and 13th.
Speaking after his triumph, Celestin said: “This win means a lot to me, especially here at home in Kigali. There was pressure, but I stayed focused on my game plan and trusted the preparation I’ve put in. The birdie on 18 was a special moment, in front of the fans, and it gave me a lot of pride to deliver this win for Rwanda. Having competed in every leg of this Tour so far, I feel my game is growing stronger with each event, and this victory gives me confidence heading into the next legs.”
South Africa’s Adam Breen mounted the biggest charge of the day, producing a dazzling blemish-free round of 6-under-par 66 to finish second with a total of 10-under-par 206. Breen’s round featured birdies on the 1st, 6th, 8th, 13th, 17th, and 18th holes — a stretch of brilliance that confirmed him as one of the standout performers of the week, taking home USD2,675 (Sh346,279) for his runner-up finish.
“Today was one of those rounds where everything clicked. I gave myself a lot of chances and managed to convert on the back nine to put some pressure on the leader. He played great golf all week and fully deserves the win. For me, this finish gives me a lot of positives to build on for future events,” said Breen.
Compatriot Haydn Porteous, a two-time DP World Tour champion and the 2015 Kenya Open winner, finished third with a final tally of 8-under-par 208 after a composed 2-under-par 70.
Porteous recorded birdies on the 4th, 7th, 12th, and 13th holes, but dropped shots on the 8th, 14th, and 15th, closing with steady pars across the remaining holes. His performance earned him USD1,810.
In fourth place, Uganda’s Gaita Rodell and South Africa’s Travis Procter tied at 7-under-par 209, both delivering consistent performances throughout the three days.
Kenya’s Eric Ooko finished as the highest-ranked Kenyan, taking 6th place on 6-under-par 210. Greg Snow and John Wangai also featured prominently, both finishing in the top ten with a tie for 8th at 4-under-par 212.
Among the elite amateurs, Kenya’s Michael Karanga and John Lejirma emerged as the highest finishers, tying in 12th place with tournament totals of 1-under-par 215.
The SportsBiz Africa Golf Championship attracted a high-quality field of 121 golfers from 16 countries across Africa, alongside participants from the UK and Canada. The event was sponsored by SportsBiz Africa, East African Breweries PLC through the Johnnie Walker brand, Kigali Golf Resort & Villas, and Pure Travel.
As the fifth leg of the Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing, the tournament provided not only a USD25,000 prize purse but also crucial Sunshine Development Tour Order of Merit points, Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points, and World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points.
