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Dutchman Van Driel scoops Magical Kenya Open victory

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, February 26, 2024
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NAIROBI, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Dutchman Darius van Driel claimed his DP World Tour title after completing a wire-to-wire victory at the Magical Kenya Open on Sunday.

After opening with a 66 on the opening day on Thursday, the 34-year-old golfer closed with a final round of 67 to win the prestigious title two strokes ahead of England's Joe Dean and Nacho Elvira of Spain at Nairobi's Muthaiga Golf Club.

Van Driel has added his name to the winner's roster of the tournament previously won by golf majors winners such as the late Seve Ballesteros, Bruce Kopek, and Louis Oosthuizen.

"It means a lot... It's a dream come true. As a kid you dream on the putting green…this is for a win on the Challenge Tour or this is for a win on the DP World Tour," Van Driel said.

"Now it's finally there, it's what you always dream of. I was calm, but once the last put went in I felt the emotions. I never thought it would hit that hard but it did," the winner told the DP World Tour after his first victory on the European circuit.

Van Driel carded only four bogeys across the four days of golf for a 14-under total for the tournament with his win coming with a 425,000 U.S. dollars top prize money.

It was a tense finish to the Kenya Open on Sunday, with a four-way tie for the lead around the turn before Van Driel eagled the tenth to take control before sealing the win after England's Matthew Jordan bogeyed the last hole having come within a shot of the Dutchman.

Scottish pair Ewen Ferguson and Connor Syme finished at ten under, one clear of South African Deon Germishuys and Frenchman Jeong weon Ko, whose closing 64 was the lowest round of the week.

None of the local golfers made the cut after Friday's second round but Ugandan golfer Ronald Rugumayo became a darling of the home crowd and golfing world after making history as the first player from his nation to make the cut at a DP World Tour tournament.

"There are no words that I can use to express how I feel. I am so grateful for Kenyans, my fellow Ugandans who flew all the way (to watch me). Honestly, it's not about me as a player, it's not about Uganda, it's about East Africa. Everything I'm doing, I'm doing for East Africa," Rugumayo, who became an overnight internet sensation, remarked. Enditem

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