Kenya Open

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Golf tournament

title: "Kenya Open" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["european-tour-events", "former-challenge-tour-events", "safari-circuit-events", "golf-tournaments-in-kenya", "sport-in-nairobi", "recurring-sporting-events-established-in-1967", "1967-establishments-in-kenya"] description: "Golf tournament" topic_path: "sports" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya_Open" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Golf tournament ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox golf tournament"]

Field	Value
name	Magical Kenya Open
image	Kenya Open logo.jpg
location	Nairobi, Kenya
establishment	1967
course	Muthaiga Golf Club
par	71
yardage	7228 yd
tour	European Tour
Challenge Tour
Safari Circuit
format	Stroke play
purse
month_played	February
final_year
aggregate	263 Justin Harding (2021)
to-par	−21 as above
current_champion	ZAF Jacques Kruyswijk
final_champion
coordinates
map	Kenya
map_label	Muthaiga GC
map_caption	Location in Kenya
map_relief	yes
map_size	200
::

History

The Kenya Open was an associate event on the Far East Circuit in 1967 and 1968, after which it became a cornerstone of the emerging Safari Circuit – a collection of tournaments initially in Kenya and Zambia, and then later in Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Zimbabwe. The European Tour, who had taken over running of the Safari Tour in the late 1970s, began to expand globally through the 1980s and those events formally became part of the second tier Challenge Tour in 1991. With the exception of the 1994 event, the Kenya Open remained on the Challenge Tour schedule until 2019 when it was elevated to the elite European Tour schedule.

In 2019, the tournament became a European Tour event and was played in mid-March during the same week as The Players Championship on the PGA Tour.

The tournament has always been held near Nairobi, either at Muthaiga Golf Club (1967, 1969–2002, 2009–2012, 2017–2018, 2022–2023) or at Karen Country Club (1968, 2004–2008, 2013–2016, 2019, 2021).

The title has been won by some of Europe's Ryder Cup golfers, including Seve Ballesteros, Ian Woosnam, Ken Brown, Edoardo Molinari and Christy O'Connor Jnr, as well as future Masters champion Trevor Immelman. The most successful player is Maurice Bembridge, who recorded three victories between 1968 and 1979.

Winners

::data[format=table] | Year | Tour | Winner | Score | To par | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up | Venue | Ref. | Magical Kenya Open | Barclays Kenya Open | Kenya Open | Tusker Kenya Open | Kenya Open | Sameer Kenya Open | Tusker Kenya Open | Lonrho Kenya Open | Kenya Open | Standard Chartered Kenya Open | 555 Kenya Open | Benson & Hedges Kenya Open | Kenya Open | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 2025 | EUR | ZAF Jacques Kruyswijk | 266 | −18 | 2 strokes | ENG John Parry | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2024 | EUR | NLD Darius van Driel | 270 | −14 | 2 strokes | ENG Joe Dean ESP Nacho Elvira | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2023 | EUR | ESP Jorge Campillo | 266 | −18 | 2 strokes | JPN Masahiro Kawamura | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2022 | EUR | CHN Wu Ashun | 268 | −16 | 4 strokes | CAN Aaron Cockerill ZAF Thriston Lawrence GER Hurly Long | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2021 | EUR | ZAF Justin Harding | 263 | −21 | 2 strokes | USA Kurt Kitayama | Karen | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2020 | EUR | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2019 | EUR | ITA Guido Migliozzi | 268 | −16 | 1 stroke | ESP Adri Arnaus ZAF Louis de Jager ZAF Justin Harding | Karen | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2018 | CHA | ITA Lorenzo Gagli | 273 | −11 | Playoff | SWE Jens Fahrbring | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2017 | CHA | ENG Aaron Rai | 267 | −17 | 3 strokes | FRA Adrien Saddier | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2016 | CHA | SWE Sebastian Söderberg | 270 | −18 | 3 strokes | FRA Romain Langasque | Karen | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2015 | CHA | ZAF Haydn Porteous | 271 | −17 | Playoff | ZAF Brandon Stone | Karen | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2014 | CHA | ZAF Jake Roos | 278 | −10 | 1 stroke | FRA Adrien Bernadet DNK Lasse Jensen ESP Pedro Oriol | Karen | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2013 | CHA | ESP Jordi García Pinto | 272 | −12 | 1 stroke | NLD Tim Sluiter | Karen | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2012 | CHA | ENG Seve Benson | 274 | −10 | Playoff | DNK Lasse Jensen | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2011 | CHA | ZAF Michiel Bothma | 270 | −14 | 2 strokes | ZAF Tyrone Ferreira | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2010 | CHA | ENG Robert Dinwiddie | 272 | −12 | 3 strokes | ARG Julio Zapata | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2009 | CHA | ENG Gary Boyd | 271 | −13 | 4 strokes | ENG Andrew Butterfield ENG Philip Golding | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2008 | CHA | ENG Iain Pyman | 272 | −12 | 3 strokes | AUT Thomas Feyrsinger | Karen | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2007 | CHA | ITA Edoardo Molinari | 274 | −6 | 1 stroke | ZAF James Kamte | Karen | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2006 | CHA | SWE Johan Axgren | 270 | −10 | 4 strokes | ENG James Hepworth ENG Gary Lockerbie | Karen | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2005 | CHA | ARG Daniel Vancsik | 272 | −8 | 3 strokes | ZAF Michael Kirk | Karen | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2004 | CHA | ZWE Marc Cayeux | 270 | −10 | Playoff | SWE Leif Westerberg | Karen | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2003: No tournament | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2002 | CHA | ENG Lee S. James | 265 | −19 | 3 strokes | ZAF Titch Moore | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2001 | CHA | ZAF Ashley Roestoff | 271 | −13 | Playoff | ENG Andrew Sherborne | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2000 | CHA | ZAF Trevor Immelman | 270 | −14 | 4 strokes | SWE Henrik Stenson | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1999 | CHA | NLD Maarten Lafeber | 265 | −19 | 3 strokes | SWE Erik Andersson | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1998 | CHA | ARG Ricardo González | 272 | −12 | Playoff | KEN Jacob Okello | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1997 | CHA | ARG Jorge Berendt | 268 | −16 | 4 strokes | ZAF Sammy Daniels | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1996 | CHA | SCO Mike Miller | 272 | −12 | Playoff | ENG Phil Harrison ENG Robert Lee | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1995 | CHA | WAL James Lee | 265 | −19 | 5 strokes | DNK Thomas Bjørn ZAF Chris Williams | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1994 | | ENG Paul Carman | 276 | −8 | Playoff | ENG Glenn Ralph | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1993 | CHA | SCO Craig Maltman | 276 | −8 | Playoff | ENG Peter Harrison SWE Daniel Westermark | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1992 | CHA | CHE André Bossert | 272 | −12 | 1 stroke | SCO Craig Maltman | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1991 | CHA | ENG Jeremy Robinson | 269 | −15 | 5 strokes | WAL Paul Affleck ENG Philip Golding SCO Sandy Stephen | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1990 | SAF | IRL Christy O'Connor Jnr | 271 | −13 | 2 strokes | ENG Chris Platts | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1989 | SAF | NIR David Jones | 271 | −13 | 3 strokes | WAL Mark Mouland | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1988 | SAF | ENG Chris Platts | 271 | −13 | 1 stroke | WAL Mark Mouland | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1987 | SAF | ENG Carl Mason | 275 | −9 | Playoff | ENG Gordon J. Brand ENG Roger Chapman ENG Martin Poxon | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1986 | SAF | WAL Ian Woosnam | 273 | −11 | Playoff | SCO Bill Longmuir | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1985 | SAF | SCO Garry Harvey | 278 | −6 | 1 stroke | ENG Brian Waites | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1984 | SAF | ESP José María Cañizares | 277 | −7 | Playoff | ENG David J. Russell | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1983 | SAF | SCO Ken Brown | 274 | −10 | 1 stroke | ENG Jeff Hall | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1982 | SAF | IRL Eamonn Darcy | 274 | −10 | 1 stroke | ENG David Jagger | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1981 | SAF | SCO Brian Barnes | 274 | −10 | 1 stroke | SCO Bernard Gallacher SCO Sandy Lyle | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1980 | SAF | ENG Brian Waites | 271 | −13 | 1 stroke | SCO Bill Longmuir | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1979 | SAF | ENG Maurice Bembridge (3) | 271 | −13 | Playoff | SCO Bernard Gallacher | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1978 | SAF | ESP Seve Ballesteros | 274 | −10 | 1 stroke | SCO Bernard Gallacher | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1977 | SAF | IRL Liam Higgins | 283 | −1 | 1 stroke | ENG Gary Smith ENG Bob Wynn | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1976: No tournament due to economic problems | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1975 | | ENG Gary Smith | 276 | −12 | Playoff | AUS Jack Newton | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1974 | | ENG David Jagger | 274 | −14 | 1 stroke | ENG Malcolm Gregson | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1973 | | NLD Jan Dorrestein (2) | 276 | −12 | 1 stroke | ENG David Jagger | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1972 | | WAL David Llewellyn | 279 | −9 | 2 strokes | ENG Peter Tupling | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1971 | | IRL Ernie Jones | 283 | −5 | Playoff | ENG Russell Meek | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1970 | | NLD Jan Dorrestein | 273 | −15 | 14 strokes | ENG Malcolm Gregson SCO Ronnie Shade AUS Bob Tuohy | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1969 | | ENG Maurice Bembridge (2) | 279 | −9 | 5 strokes | SCO Bernard Gallacher ZMB Simon Hobday (a) | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1968 | AGC | ENG Maurice Bembridge | 289 | +1 | 2 strokes | ZAF Terry Westbrook | Karen | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1967 | FEC | ENG Guy Wolstenholme | 279 | −9 | 4 strokes | AUS Peter Thomson | Muthaiga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ::

Notes

References

(1993). "Rhinos in the Rough:A Golfers Guide to Kenya". Kenway Publications.
(10 April 1967). "Seven events in F-E circuit". The Straits Times.
Boey, Francis. (29 December 1967). "Club members pay for Fisher's trip". The Straits Times.
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(29 October 2018). "European Tour Announces Expansive Global Schedule for 2019". European Tour.
(23 February 2025). "Jacques Kruyswijk clinches first DP World Tour win in Kenya". European Tour.
(25 February 2024). "DP World Tour: Darius van Driel claims maiden title with two-shot victory at Magical Kenya Open". Sky Sports.
(12 March 2023). "DP World Tour: Jorge Campillo completes impressive two-shot victory at Magical Kenya Open". Sky Sports.
(6 March 2022). "DP World Tour: Ashun Wu cruises to victory at Magical Kenya Open after Ewen Ferguson blows lead".
(21 March 2021). "Flawless Harding takes title in Kenya". European Tour.
(10 September 2020). "Kenya: Rescheduled Magical Kenya Open Now Cancelled".
(17 March 2019). "Migliozzi wins Kenya Open for first European Tour title".
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(26 March 2017). "Tears and cheers as Rai wins in Kenya". European Tour.
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Bishumba, Richard. (13 April 2015). "South African Porteous wins Kenya Open". The New Times.
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(12 March 1984). "£3200 cost of Russell lapses". [[The Glasgow Herald]].
(14 March 1983). "Surprise win for Brown". [[The Glasgow Herald]].
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(19 March 1979). "Miss from three feet costs Bernie title". [[The Glasgow Herald]].
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(5 March 1974). "Jagger wins from Gregson". [[The Glasgow Herald]].
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(10 April 1972). "Shade third after a 7". [[The Glasgow Herald]].
(19 April 1971). "Nairobi". [[The Times]].
(6 April 1970). "Scotland's Ronnie Shade". [[The Evening Times]].
(15 April 1969). "Bembridge keeps Kenya Open golf title". [[The Canberra Times]].
(23 April 1968). "Kenya Open". [[The Age]].
(25 April 1967). "Wolstenholme wins golf". [[The Age]].
(24 April 1967). "G. B. Wolstenholme". [[The Glasgow Herald]].

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