Kitata, Cwinyaai ready to rumble in Magical Kenya Open

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Willy Kitata and Joseph Cwinyaai, the two Ugandan participants in this year's Magical Kenya Open, aim to replicate or surpass Ronald Rugumayo's accomplishments from last year at the DP World Tour event held at the Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobi.

Last year, Rugumayo made further history in the event by becoming the first Ugandan to 'make the cut' in a DP World Tour event. He was also the only East African to last the four days of the competition. Earlier in 2023, he had also become the first Ugandan and East African to hit a hole-in-one in a European Tour event.

On Monday, Kitata topped a 13-man regional qualifier at the Vetlab Golf Club to make the cut to play in the main event for the first time alongside Malawi’s Paul Chidale and Nigeria’s Sunday Olapade.

Kitata, who has already experienced action at a DP World Tour event without much success, can now also write his own story if he makes the cut reserved for the top 70 players and ties after the first 36 holes.

And it is not only for the plaudits but also for the enticing sh9.1b prize money, from which the winner banks sh1.56b!

After topping the qualifier with 149 over two rounds, he went back to the range to ensure he sharpens up for the tougher assignment that awaits against some of the world’s best and more experienced players.

“I’m so happy that after the 36 holes of the qualifying round, I made it to the Magical Kenya Open. I’m in the field now, and I’m so happy about that. It was really tough, the course was really tough, windy, and the conditions on the green were not easy, but we finally made it here and we are looking forward to the great week. I’m so excited, I’m pumped up and it doesn’t get any better than that,” Kitata told the media after his feat.

Kitata is the first on the tee at 7.20am alongside namesake Spain’s Willy Arnaus and France’s Adri De Leo Gregorio in the strong field of 150 players.

Joseph Cwinyaai is hoping to emulate Rugumayo in the MKO. (Photo by Michael Nsubuga)

Amateur golfer Cwinyaai qualified for the event after finishing second in the 2024 Kenya Amateur Match-Play Championship final at the Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club last July.

He was beaten by compatriot Michael Alunga, who should have taken the slot but could not due to a busy schedule in North Carolina, where he is currently attending college.

Absa-sponsored Cwinyaai will also take to the course in quick succession after Kitata, alongside Spanish Sebastian Garcia Rodriguez and Germany’s Frederik Schott.

“I promise Ugandans that I’m going out there to emulate what Rugumayo achieved,” Cwinyaai promised soon after touching down in Nairobi on Tuesday night.

On Wednesday, another batch of Ugandan amateur golfers sponsored by Absa Bank, who qualified to play in the Pro-Am, were in action alongside some of the professionals who used the event as a practice round.