Ruiru Sports Club to host Absa Ruiru Invitational golf tournament

The Absa Ruiru Invitational, the fifth leg of the Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing, is scheduled to take place at Ruiru Sports Club from Sunday to Tuesday. A Pro-Am event will precede the main championship on Saturday, August 15, allowing professionals and amateurs to preview the course.

A field of 63 participants, including professionals, amateurs, and junior golfers from across the region, will compete for Sunshine Development Tour Order of Merit points, as well as Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) and World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points. The tournament serves as a pathway for players aiming to advance toward the Sunshine Tour.

Defending interest in the venue includes Dismas Indiza of Kakamega Sports Club and John Lejirma of Royal Nairobi. Last year's edition saw a dramatic finish where Indiza overcame a five-shot deficit in the final round to tie Lejirma at 4-under par 212. Indiza eventually secured the title by defeating Lejirma with a birdie on the par-4 18th hole during a sudden-death playoff.

Kenyan professionals such as Samuel Njoroge Chege, Greg Snow, Daniel Nduva, Michael Karanga, David Wakhu, Edwin Mudanyi, Mohit Mediratta, and Taimur Malik are among those expected to feature. The international contingent is led by Rwanda's Celestin Nsanzuwera, with additional players arriving from Uganda, Nigeria, Tanzania, Ghana, Malawi, and Burundi.

Tournament Director David Kihara noted that the history of the Ruiru leg and the strength of the incoming field should ensure a closely contested competition. The event is supported by Absa Bank Kenya, which is sponsoring three legs of the tour this season.