- Event: Magical Kenya Open 2025
- Dates: 20th to 23rd February
- Venue: Muthaiga Golf Club, Nairobi – Kenya
- Prize fund: $2.5 million
Willy Deus Kitata will be the only professional golfer from Uganda to play at this year’s Magical Kenya Open (20th to 23rd February) in Muthaiga, Nairobi.
This was after the Florida based player topped the regional qualifiers with 149 gross in two rounds at Vetlab sports club.
Two other players; Paul Chidale and Sunday Olapade from Malawi and Nigeria respectively also made it.
Kitata’s reaction after making the cut said it all about the effort he put in as a player and his entire team.
“It has been a stressful week but we finally made it the hard way with qualification to the Magical Kenya Open which means a lot to me being a DP Tour player.” Kitata sighed.
He spoke of diligence in the coming few days well aware of the crop of finest players he will encounter.
“We have work ahead of us but we gonna go do it. We are looking forward to a great week. I am so excited. I am pumped. It does not get any better than that. I am sharpening my weapons to go close out the deal” he added.
During the qualification first round, Kitata returned 4-over-76 with a single birdie on the par 4 hole 10. He had 13 pars (on holes 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17 and 18), two bogies (on holes 13 and 14) as well as a single double bogie on par-4 hole 3.
His second round in the afternoon was a far improved session with 1-over-73 including two birdies (on holes 1 and 12), 13 pars (4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) and three bogies (on holes 2, 3 and 8).
The 2014 Uganda Amateur Open champion will join national team captain Joseph Cwinya-ai at the DP World Tour championship.
Kitata will tee off round one at 7:20 am alongside Arnaus Adria Antunez (Spain) and De Leo Gregorio (Italy).
Antunez won the 2022 Catalunya championship on the European Tour.
Ten minutes later, the trio of Garcia Sebastian Rodriguez (Spain), Joseph Cwinya-ai and Schott Freddy (Germany) will follow suit.
Hosts Kenya has a big legion of players as Njoroge Kibugu, Greg Snow, David Wakhu, Samuel Njoroge, Dismas Indiza, Mohit Mediratta, Riz Charania, Edwin Mudanyi, Mutahi Kibugu, Alfred Nandwa, Eric Ooko, Daniel Nduva, Simon Njogu Michael Karanga, John Lejirma, William Odek, Shashwat Harish, and Adel Balala.
The 2025 Magical Kenya Open will tee off on the 20th February and climax by 23rd February at the Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobi city, Kenya.
Darius van Driel is the reigning champion.
The total kitty at grabs is $2.5 million with the winner assured of $425,000.
2025 Magical Kenya Open Qualifiers (Regional):
Winner: Willy Deus Kitata (Uganda) – 76, 73 (149)
T2: Paul Chidale (Malawi) – 79, 71 (150)
T2: Sunday Olapade (Nigeria) – 74, 76 (150)
4: Willy Gift (Nigeria) – 74, 77 (151)
5: Andrew Odoh (Nigeria) – 76, 76 (152)
6: Aloys Nsabimana (Rwanda) – 80, 71 (152)
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