A solid drive just off the left edge of the fairway set up a stunning approach to four feet, and Kibugu rolled in the putt for a brilliant eagle to secure his place for Saturday and Sunday
Kenya’s golf sensation Njoroge Kibugu thrilled Kenyan fans on Friday after producing a dramatic eagle on the 18th hole to survive the cut at the Magical Kenya Open and remain the only Kenyan in contention heading into moving day on Saturday.
“I haven’t processed it yet, but I feel a bit ecstatic — especially with the crowd on the last,” said Kibugu.
“Two great shots and a four-footer… I was just happy to sink it. I’m really glad to be playing the weekend.”
Kibugu has continued his impressive run of form after becoming the first Kenyan in 2022 to make the cut at the Kenya Open at just 18 years old.
A four-under-par 66 in the opening round laid a strong foundation, and when the 22-year-old birdied the seventh on Friday, he moved to five under par and sat comfortably inside the cut line.
However, bogeys at the 12th and 14th holes made for a nervy finish as he slipped one shot outside the projected cut of four under. Calm two-putts on the 16th and 17th — where his long birdie effort stopped just short — left Kibugu needing a birdie on the par-five 18th to stay in the tournament for the weekend.
He delivered in style. A solid drive just off the left edge of the fairway set up a stunning approach to four feet, and Kibugu rolled in the putt for a brilliant eagle to secure his place for Saturday and Sunday.
Elsewhere on the leaderboard, Frédéric Lacroix fired a superb second-round 62 to share the halfway lead on 13-under-par with Casey Jarvis. The duo opened a two-shot cushion over a chasing pack that included South Africa’s Hennie Du Plessis, who carded a sensational 61.
Du Plessis’ round would have been a course record at Karen Country Club had preferred lies not been in place. He shares third position with Spain’s Ángel Ayora and Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia.
After finishing his opening 65 with an eagle to build momentum, Lacroix carried the form into Friday, picking up four birdies on the front nine and another four on the back nine to cap off a brilliant round of 62.
