Sunshine Development Tour: Lejirma Takes Round One Lead At East Africa Swing Q-School

NAIROBI, Kenya – April 1, 2025 – Kenya Railways’ elite amateur golfer John Lejirma fired an impressive 3-under par 68 to claim the first-round lead at the Sunshine Development Tour’s East Africa Swing Qualifying School tournament, played at the par-71 Great Rift Valley Golf Resort in Naivasha.

Lejirma’s Strong Start

The rising star began his round on the back nine, carding a solid 1-under 35 through his first nine holes. His momentum continued with back-to-back birdies at the par-4 first and second holes before his only blemish of the day – a bogey at the fifth. Lejirma closed strong with a birdie at the eighth to secure his clubhouse lead.

“This is a huge opportunity, especially as an amateur. It’s a dream come true!” Lejirma said. “I arrived last night from Kisii where I shot 4-under, so I came in confident. I focused on keeping the ball in play and the strategy worked well.”

Chasing Pack

Lejirma holds a one-stroke advantage over a pair of seasoned competitors:

• Greg Snow (Muthaiga Golf Club) – 2-under 69
• Isaiah Otuke (Vetlab Sports Club) – 2-under 69

Otuke’s Comeback

Otuke overcame early pressure from playing partners Michael Karanga and Michael Kisia, who both faltered with consecutive double bogeys on holes 13 and 14. “I lowered my expectations coming in,” Otuke admitted. “I missed several birdie chances early but found my rhythm on the back nine.”

Snow’s Tournament Outlook

Experienced pro Greg Snow remained optimistic about his chances:

“I want to thank the organizers for this opportunity. The wind made conditions tricky today, but it’s a solid start. My goal is to make the top 10 and earn the chance to compete in South Africa,” Snow stated.

Tournament Details

The second round begins at 7:30 AM local time, with players competing for:

• A share of the KES 1 million prize purse
• Top 10 spots advancing to the Sunshine Tour Final Stage Qualifier in Johannesburg

This article summarizes the original report from Capital FM Sports. For complete coverage, visit the original source.