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Magical Kenya Open: South African Jacques Kruyswijk cruises to the top
Krusyswijk Jacques follows his tee shot from second tee on February 22, 2025 during Magical Kenya Open Golf tournament at Muthaiga Golf Club.
South Africa’s Jacques Kruyswijk was in his best form on day three of the 2025 Magical Kenya Open by Absa, as he fired a bogey-free seven under par 64, to jump to the top of the leaderboard going into today’s final round of the DP World Tour tournament at the par 71 Muthaiga Golf Club course.
The 32-year-old Kruyswijk who is chasing his first DP Tour title, ranked 361 in the world and 79 in the Race to Dubai series picked his first birdie at the fourth, then he had to wait until at the eighth for his second birdie.
Blomstrand Christofer follows the progress of his tee shot on February 22, 2025, during Magical Kenya Open Golf tournament at Muthaiga Golf Club.
It was, however, at the back nine where the birdie-hungry South African decided to go for the top spot in the 56th Magical Kenya Open. He birdied the 10th, 12th 15th, 17th and the home green for a brilliant seven under par 64 which took him to the top with a 14 under par 19, leaving England’s John Parry by one shot.
“It was super breezy out there today. I played a really good game plan around this golf course. I wasn’t super aggressive, as you could seen on the last couple. I rolled a couple in but I’ve just been super consistent and my mindset has been really good this whole week. Whatever happens tomorrow (Sunday) is going to happen, but I’m ready’’ said Kruyswijk.
“It was tricky. The wind was blowing all over the place, it was two clubs at one stage. It was tricky to get it around the golf course but I wasn’t being aggressive. On the tee boxes, I was leaving it a little bit short, if I was going to miss it I was missing it in the right spots.
Hebert Benjamin reacts after missing a birdie putt on 18th hole Green during Magical Kenya Open Golf on February 22, 2025 at Muthaiga Golf Club.
“It would be special to win. I don’t want to get emotional. I’m going to stay focussed tonight and if I can bring this home for South Africa it will be huge for me,’’ added the South Africa.
Parry who did not seems to be in his best frame, dropped a shot at the down-hill par four-first hole. He recovered that shot at the eighth, but bogeyed the par three-13th where there is a Sh8.2 million car for a hole in one.
And as if that was not enough, Parry dropped one more shot at the par three-16th only to recover one at the 18th, a recovery coming rather late as he wound up the round on one over par 72 and a three rounds total of 13 under par 200.
Krusyswijk Jacques reacts to his putt at the 16th hole green on February 22, 2025, during the Magical Kenya Open Golf tournament at Muthaiga Golf Club.
“When someone goes ahead of you, it’s all about getting as close to them as possible, getting in the last group. Not seen the forecast for tomorrow but guessing it’s going to be pretty similar. It’s pleasing. Not much went right today, but still solid.
I still think I drove it well, put myself in position. When I look back, when I had a wedge, I was perhaps a bit long, or a bit over the back, a bit too aggressive. You know there’s not many birdie chances, when you get a wedge you want to try and put it close. I didn’t hole much either but I’m pretty happy with the way I played.”
“ I’m playing the course quite aggressive anyway, hitting a lot of drivers, so I think we’ll stick with that’’ said Parry after his round.
Jayden Schaper follows the progress of his tee shot on February 22, 2025 during Magical Kenya Open Golf tournament at Muthaiga Golf Club.
The day was not as good either for Frenchman Benjamin Hebert who could only manage two over par 73 for a 11 under par 202.
He had started off well, rolling in a birdie putt at the first hole. A birdie that was followed by three bogeys at the second, fourth and fifth though he closed the front nine well, picking up a three at the par four-ninth.
However birdies continued to be elusive to him, while to make the matter worse, Hebert dropped a crucial shot at the 18th for two over par 73 and 11 under par 202.
A total of 67 players are fighting it for a share of the $2.5 million prize purse with the winner taking home $425,000 (about Sh54.4 million), plus 585 points towards the Race to Dubai series.
This year, the 67th player will take home $5,500 (Sh704, 000), not bad for a four-day work!
Meanwhile, three junior golfers Mitansh Thacker, Kevin Anyien and Kanana Muthomi each won an Absa Junior account loaded with Sh50,000 after beating pros at the “Beat The Pro competition at the 13th hole where 20 juniors got to tee off against the best 40 professionals.
Junior Golf Foundation President said she was proud that the 20 junior golfers got to play with the 40 pros in the contest. She hoped that this would be a regular feature in the Magical Kenya Open.