Windsor Golf and Country Club professional Njoroge Kibugu set the pace at the Absa Invitational Series after firing a superb 6-under par 64 in the opening round at Karen Country Club on Monday, January 19, 2026.
Playing on the par-70 Karen layout, Kibugu showed early intent with birdies at the 1st, 7th and 9th holes, despite bogeys at the 6th and 8th. He steadied himself on the back nine, picking up another birdie on the 10th before dropping shots at the 11th and 13th. A strong finish, highlighted by back-to-back birdies on the 16th and 17th, sealed his commanding round and handed him the outright lead.
Reflecting on his performance, Kibugu expressed satisfaction with his start. “It was pretty alright today, smooth sailing. I had two bogeys on the card but finishing at six under, I am happy with the round. The course played quite well. The greens are not the smoothest, but I will take the score. Tomorrow, I’ll stick to the same game plan and hope for the best,” he said.
Rwanda’s Celestin Nsanzuwera sits close behind in second place after posting a 5-under par round. His card featured eight birdies across holes 1, 2, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 17, offset by a bogey on the 11th and a double bogey on the 13th.
Nsanzuwera remains firmly focused on the bigger prize. “Finishing five under is a good start. I really want to win the overall title because it would be my third win on the tour, and winning the final event would mean earning a Sunshine Tour card,” he noted.
Nigeria’s Kamalo Bako holds third place on 4-under par after an eventful round that included birdies at the 2nd, 6th, 16th and 18th, an eagle on the 12th, and bogeys at the 5th, 11th and 15th holes.
Sharing fourth position on 3-under par are Isaiah Otuke and Johnny Limb. Otuke recorded eight birdies but was held back by five bogeys, while Limb carded five birdies against two bogeys. Limb, who is familiar with the Karen course, welcomed the strong start. “It feels more comfortable playing at home. I’ve played here since I was a kid, so I know my way around and felt confident coming into this tournament,” he said.
A tightly packed leaderboard sees Daniel Nduva, Mike Kisia, Kenneth Bollo, Uganda’s Otile Ronald and Nigeria’s Kamalo Bako tied for sixth at 2-under par, all within striking distance heading into the second round.
The Absa Invitational Series, the final stop of the Sunshine Development Tour East Africa Swing, carries a KSh 2 million prize purse, along with Official World Golf Ranking points and valuable Sunshine Development Tour Order of Merit points. These points are key in determining qualification for the Sunshine Development Tour Africa Championship, a crucial pathway toward earning full Sunshine Tour membership.
