South African Jacques Kruyswijk claimed his maiden DP World Tour title after an impressive display of frontrunning to win the 2025 Magical Kenya Open presented by absa by two shots.
Kruyswijk did not put a foot wrong in the final round as he carded four birdies in a sublime 67 to finish two shots clear of Englishman John Parry and reach 18 under par, complete a bogey-free weekend and become the second South African winner of this event since it became part of the DP World Tour’s Global Schedule.
The 32-year-old started the day with a one-stroke lead but trailed halfway leader Parry after five holes of Sunday’s fourth round, with the Englishman making back-to-back birdies at the fourth and fifth to hit the front.
But Kruyswijk soon hit back, rolling in lengthy birdie putts on the sixth and seventh to lead by one at the turn.
A fine bunker shot on the tenth helped Kruyswijk get up and down for a birdie to move two shots clear but Parry birdied the 12th to cut the gap once more and remain within striking distance.
However, Kruyswijk looked comfortable leading from the front as he continued to give himself birdie chances and confidently knocking in par putts.
After Parry’s wayward tee-shot on the 14th saw him drop further behind, Kruyswijk never looked like giving up his lead, holing from range for another birdie on the 16th to stretch his advantage to three before parring his way home to enter the winner’s circle for the first time on the DP World Tour.
Jacques Kruyswijk: “It’s special. I’m a little bit lost for words but this is for my family back home, my friends, my team and this is for South Africa.
“I’m happy that I can keep the trophy on African soil and obviously bring it back to South Africa. It makes me very proud.
“I’m super proud of myself with the mindset I’ve had this week and the way I’ve played this golf course. What can I say? I’m happy.
“The Investec South African Open Championship is special for all of us South Africans and I’m super excited to be there next week as a winner. I’m pumped to get home.”
“The support has been unbelievable. The people here have been fantastic. You can see them supporting me, they’ve been out here in their numbers today so I can’t be thankful enough.
“I’ll thank them properly a little bit later but it’s been awesome.”
Parry finished in solo second on 16 under, continuing an impressive start to the season that has seen him record a victory and two second-place finishes in three visits to Africa so far this campaign.
Deon Germishuys was three shots further back in third, one ahead of fellow South African Jayden Schaper in fourth, while Italy’s Gregorio de Leo and Englishman Jamie Rutherford, who came agonisingly close to a closing albatross, shared fifth place on 11 under.
Kruyswijk had to hang in there in the early stages of his round, producing a magnificent par save from ten feet on the third to keep hold of his one-shot lead.
