Josphat Rono has finally made a name for himself in the Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) series.
Since beginning his golfing journey in 2018, he had yet to claim a victory in the series—until now.
On Sunday, Rono etched his name into Kenya’s golfing history. He won the third edition of the 2024 NCBA Golf Park Open.
The event took place at the par-70 Golf Park Club, located at the Ngong Racecourse in Nairobi.
The win marks his first-ever title in the KAGC series.
Rono, who recently represented Kenya in the 2024 All Africa Golf Team Championship (AAGTC) held at Bulawayo Golf Club in Zimbabwe, credited that experience to his success at the NCBA Golf Park Open.
“Playing against seasoned golfers in Zimbabwe helped me. My coach and I have been working on improving my swing, and I’m grateful that it all came together today,” Rono told Golf Score Kenya.
Rono’s victory was highlighted by consistent play across all three rounds of the tournament.
He carded impressive scores of 68, 66, and 70, culminating in a total of 204, 6-under par.
“I’m so elated—this is my first-ever title in the KAGC since I started playing in 2018. I’ve often finished in the top 10, but this win means everything,” he said.
He added, “With three tournaments remaining this season, I’m hopeful that I can carry this momentum forward and finish strong.”
The remaining events in the 2024 KAGC calendar include the Kiambu Open, the Uhuru Shield at Royal Nairobi, and the Nyali Open.
Rono has been one of the most consistent players this season, having participated in 21 out of 25 tournaments.
His victory at the 2024 Golf Park Open earned him 101.5 points in the KAGC standings, along with a cash prize of Sh115,600.
This win propels him to fifth place in the series rankings, with a total of 249.1 points.
Coming in second was Rono’s clubmate, James Mwangi, who finished with a total score of 209, 1-under par.
Mwangi started strong with an opening round of 69, followed by an impressive 68 on the second day.
However, he faced challenges in the final round, carding a 72.
Despite this, Mwangi’s solid overall performance secured a second-place finish, further highlighting a successful outing for Golf Park Club.
Elvis Muigua of Kiambu Golf Club delivered a commendable performance to finish third.
He began with a brilliant 3-under par 67, followed by a 2-under par 68 on the second day.
Unfortunately, a tough final round of 8-over par 78 left him with a total score of 213, 3-over par.
Last year’s Golf Park Open champion, Sammy Mulama, tied for fourth place with Kenya team captain John Lejirma, both finishing with scores of 215, 5-over par.
Mulama’s tournament was a story of resilience; he started with a challenging 5-over par 75, improved with a 1-over par 71 on the second day, and capped it off with an impressive 1-under par 69 in the final round.
Meanwhile, Lejirma of Kenya Railway Golf Club, the inaugural champion of the Golf Park Open, showcased his experience by opening with a 76, recovering with a 73, and finishing strong with a stellar 4-under par 66 in the final round.