John Lejirma tees off at the Shunshine Development Tour East Africa Swing at Ruiru Sports Club/HANDOUTKenya’s top amateur golfer, John Lejirma, says he is targeting the overall title at the SportsBiz Africa Golf Championship Kigali leg set to tee off today at the Kigali Golf Resort & Villas.
The fifth leg of the Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing ends on Friday. The Royal Nairobi Golf Club golfers said, “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.”
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. Lejirma said his approach has been centred 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.
“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.
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 as a platform to prepare for the professional ranks while also chasing points that could boost their global visibility.
