Godwin Okoko praises bright 68 at 2026 Absa Ruiru Invitational

Godwin Okoko has praised his opening round at the 2026 Absa Ruiru Invitational after carding a two-under-par 68 at Ruiru Sports Club in Kiambu County, Kenya. The Nigerian professional was initially part of a four-way tie for first place after Monday’s play.

Okoko shared the lead with Kenya’s Daniel Nduva, John Karichu and defending champion Dismas Indiza. Their matching scores created a tightly packed leaderboard at the fifth leg of the Sunshine Development Tour/East Africa Swing, which concludes on Tuesday.

Okoko made birdies at the second, eighth, ninth, 13th and 15th holes. He also surrendered shots at the first, fourth and 18th, but his 68 kept him close to the leaders and gave him a strong platform for the rest of the competition.

The Nigerian later occupied sixth place on the leaderboard, although he remained satisfied with the way he began the tournament. His assessment was that the round included several good birdie opportunities and a number of chances created throughout the course, while the dropped shots near the end prevented an even stronger score. He identified concentration and another solid round as his immediate priorities.

Nduva produced the most aggressive start among the leading players, making birdies on the first three holes before adding another at the eighth. Indiza, meanwhile, completed a bogey-free round, with birdies on the 10th and 18th helping him reach the same two-under total.

Another Nigerian, Kamalu Bako, was tied for ninth on level par alongside Kenya’s David Wakhu, Joseph Karanja, Michael Karanga and Edwin Mudanyi, as well as Uganda’s Philip Kasozi. The players are competing for a two-million-Kenyan-shilling top prize, plus points towards the Sunshine Development Tour Order of Merit, the Official World Ranking and the World Amateur Golf Ranking.