The battle for the Sunshine Tour tickets started fiercely at the Great Rift Valley Lodge and Golf Resort in Naivasha yesterday.

70 players from across East Africa combed the pristine par 72 fairways, putting their lives on the line, as they looked for glory in the four-day Qualifying School (Q-School) cutthroat contest that has high stakes on offer; including Sh1 million purse money, 10 tickets to the final Sunshine Tour Qualifier in South Africa and a berth into the East Africa Swing series.

Kenyans dominated Round 1 of the event yesterday.

John ‘Samburu One’ Lejirma of Royal Nairobi Golf Club fired three under par 68 to take command of the leaderboard heading to the dreaded Day 2 cutline today.

Isaiah Otuke of Vet Lab Sports Club and Greg Snow of Muthaiga tied second on two under par 69 apiece as ‘Kenya 1’ Michael Karanga of Kiambu followed in fourth place on one under par 70.

Isaac Wayeche of Tanzania was the only foreign player in the top ten after he tied with Jeff Kubwa (Royal) and Mike Kisia (Great Rift Valley Lodge) on one over par 72.

“I had a good run on the course today and this was inspired with my lifting of the inaugural Shabana Trophy Kisii Open on Sunday,” Lejirma told Standard Sports.

“It’s quite an hour to get a Sunshine Development Tour invite to take part in this Q-School event which is indeed a big moment for me, the country and the entire East Africa region.

“My plan on Tuesday is to stick to the same game plan as I aim for a similar three under par on the day.

“My target is to top the championship on nine under par on Thursday, so I will strive to put across one of the fiercest battle ever witnessed from me,” Lejirma said.

Even though top 50 players are expected to make the cut today and proceed to Day 3 tomorrow, all the registered 70 players have qualified for the East Africa Swing Series Tour, provided they finish the needed rounds.

Out of the proceeding 50 players who will make the cut, top ten on the final day on Thursday will proceed for the final round of the Sunshine Tour Qualifier slated for Johannesburg, South Africa, on April 8-11, 2025 where they will battle for the available 20 Sunshine Slots against South African players.

Top lady in the Q-School contest in Naivasha will automatically book a ticket to the Sunshine Ladies Tour.

Top 30 from the 15-legged East Africa Swing series, to be spread across the region, will also head to South Africa next year where they will battle a similar number of South African players for the 12 available Sunshine Tour slots. Top player in the Africa showpiece will head home Sh10 million richer.

A number of golfers highlighted their excitement in taking in the ongoing Q-School contest in Naivasha, with many saying the Tour being curved out will help improve the level of the game in the country and the East Africa region as a whole.

“I just want to be safe in this battle, my aim is to finish this Qualifier in top three,” Samuel Njoroge of Kenya Railway Golf Club, told Standard Sports as he teed off in the cold morning weather.

Celestin Nsanzuwera of Kigali Golf Resort and Villas reiterated that he was in Naivasha to make his country Rwanda proud by clinching a tour card slot from the event.

His sentiments were echoed by Uganda’s Marvin Kibirige who is hopeful to be in the top ten.

“The event will definitely bring out the best in East Africa,” Kibirige said.