John Lejirma of Royal Nairobi Golf Club in action during the Shunshine Development Tour East Africa Swing in Ruiru.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Kenya’s top amateur golfer, John Lejirma of Royal Nairobi Golf Club, has set his sights firmly on making a strong impression at the SportsBiz Africa Golf Championship, the fifth leg of the Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing, set to tee off this week from 3rd to 5th September at the Kigali Golf Resort & Villas. Click this link https://a.meridianbet.ke/c/C7pYjz to start gaming and stand a chance of winning big with Meridianbet.

Lejirma, who has been one of the standout amateurs across the Swing so far, believes his preparation and growing experience from the earlier tournaments will give him a strong platform to compete against an elite field of professionals from across Africa.

He has already proven his pedigree by finishing second at the Ruiru leg, where he took veteran Dismas Indiza to a dramatic playoff, further cementing his reputation as one of the brightest prospects in East African golf.

Speaking ahead of the tournament, Lejirma said his approach has been centered on keeping things simple and disciplined:

“My preparation has been about keeping things simple. I’ve been working on my consistency, sharpening my short game, and staying mentally strong, and I’m looking forward to competing at my best.”

He added that his technical focus has been on two specific areas of his game that could give him the edge in Kigali: “I’ve really been working on my putting and approach play from 150 yards coming down. I feel those improvements will give me a good chance this week.”

Having already tested himself against some of the best players in the region during the Thika and Ruiru events, Lejirma says that the chance to go toe-to-toe with seasoned professionals has been both humbling and motivating.

John Lejirma tees off at the Shunshine Development Tour East Africa Swing at Ruiru Sports Club.

“Testing my game as an amateur is always a huge opportunity. Playing against experienced pros pushes me to raise my own level and shows me exactly where I need to improve. It’s motivating because you get to measure your game against some of the very best.”

The 2025 Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing has provided a rare platform for amateurs like Lejirma, as the events carry not just Sunshine Development Tour order of merit points but also Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points and World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points. This means every strong finish has a tangible impact on career progression and global recognition.

Lejirma says his expectations for Kigali are clear: “My personal expectations for this fifth leg of the Tour are just about putting myself in contention again and building on the lessons from previous events. If I can stay focused on my process, the results will follow.”

As one of the leading amateurs on the Tour’s Order of Merit standings, Lejirma represents the growing crop of Kenyan golfers using the Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing as a platform to prepare for the professional ranks while also chasing points that could boost their global visibility.

The SportsBiz Africa Golf Championship, sponsored by SportsBiz Africa, Johnnie Walker (EABL), Kigali Golf Resort & Villas, and Pure Travel, has attracted 121 golfers from across 16 countries and will serve as a precursor to the SportsBiz Africa Forum, a two-day conference in Kigali focused on advancing Africa’s sports industry.

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JANUARY 13: A view of the 11th green on the East course at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club on January 13, 2016 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

By KGG Team

The third editions of the Africa Amateur Championship and Africa Amateur Women’s Invitational will be played at Royal Johannesburg from 4-7 February 2026. Click this link https://a.meridianbet.ke/c/C7pYjz to start gaming and stand a chance of winning big with Meridianbet.

Both events will be contested over the renowned East Course, which has a rich history of staging professional and amateur championships.

It is the host of this year’s Alfred Dunhill Championship and has previously held the South African Open Championship on ten occasions, the Joburg Open and the men’s and women’s South African Amateur championships. It was also an International Final Qualifying venue for The Open.
Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, Executive Director – Championships at The R&A, said, “Royal Johannesburg is a prestigious venue for championship golf and its staging of the Africa Amateur Championship and Africa Amateur Women’s Invitational signals our continuing commitment to having the most talented amateur golfers compete against each other on world-class platforms.
“The East Course will present a tough but fair challenge for Africa’s best amateur players and the winners of both events will truly have earned the honour of lifting the men’s and women’s trophies and the life-changing exemptions that are awarded to the champions.”

The winner of the Africa Amateur Championship will earn exemptions for The 154^th Open at Royal Birkdale and The Amateur Championship, while the winner of the Africa Amateur Women’s Invitational will earn starts in The Women’s Amateur Championship and Final Qualifying for the AIG Women’s Open.

Rolex is an event partner of the Africa Amateur Championship and Africa Amateur Women’s Invitational and is committed to supporting The R&A’s professional and amateur championships.