Chinese Wu wins 2022 Magical Kenya Open

Chinese Wu wins 2022 Magical Kenya Open

Chinese Ashun Wu wins poses for a photo after winning the 2022 Magical Kenya Open at the Muthaiga Golf Club on March 6, 2022. Photo/ Courtesy.

Ashun Wu fired 6 under par 65 to win the 2022 Magical Kenya Open, at the Muthaiga Golf Club on Sunday.

President Uhuru Kenyatta presented the title to a thrilled Wu, who becomes the first Chinese ever to win the title.

His win after three grueling days at Muthaiga saw him take home Sh. 36.3 million, as a curtains came down in the colourful event also graced by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Cabinet Secretaries Najib Balala (Tourism), Eugine Wamalwa (Defence), Amina Mohammed (Sports), Betty Maina (Industrialisation) among other dignitaries.

But there was focus on 18-year old Kenyan amateur Njoroge Kibugu, who despite posting 6 over par 77 in the final day, emerged the peculiar hero of the three-day fiesta having made the cut as the only Kenyan.

Kibugu who was Kenya’s only hope after the rest of homegrown golfers including the locally renowned pros failed to make the cut, was heroically hailed by fans despite a tough final round.

“Today I couldn’t get anything going, I had unlucky breaks on one and 10, but the fans were amazing. It has been an emotional roller-coaster – it has been amazingly surreal. You don’t get this feeling much when you are not on tour, so yeah, hopefully I can build on it and get better,” said the youthful-confident Kibugu.


Njoroge Kibugu, an amatuer golfer during the Magical Kenya Open Tournament at Muthaiga Country Club in Nairobi on Friday March 04, 2022. He finished with -6. Photo/Oliver Ananda/Sportpicha

Earlier on, Scot Ewen Ferguson was in a prime position to carry the day, starting the final round a comfortable four shots ahead of Marcus Kinhult and Wu.

But just within the opening three holes, Ferguson lost his lead with a poor start that saw him falter to a five-over-par final round of 76.

Wu thus took the advantage, and after a bogey at the second, gave no chance for his close challengers to catch up.

Regardless of a bogey at the par-3, Wu who was watched by his wife and baby went on to birdie the 4th before a trio of birdies at the 7th, 8th and 9th gave him a one-shot lead over Thriston Lawrence and Aaron Cockerill by the time he faced the back nine.

As he completed the back nine, he had comfortably secured the title by four shots, becoming the oldest winner of the season.

The Chinese star is the sixth different nationality to win on the DP World Tour in 2022.

Tags:

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta Muthaiga Golf Club Magical Kenya Open Ashun Wu Chinese Njoroge Kibugu CS. Amina Mohammed CS. Eugene Wamalwa

Want to send us a story? Submit on Wananchi Reporting on the Citizen Digital App or Send an email to wananchi@royalmedia.co.ke or Send an SMS to 25170 or WhatsApp on 0743570000

Leave a Comment

Comments

No comments yet.

latest stories