Golf: Olapade Eyes $2.5m Kenya Open Prize

Despite losing in the opening rounds of the Magical Kenya Open tournament whose main rounds teed of on Thursday at the Muthiaga Golf Club in Nairobi, Kenya, Nigeria’s sole representative in the tournament, Sunday Olapade, said he remains in contention for the prize money.

Olapade of the Lagos Ikoyi Club picked one of the three last tickets to the European Tour event, marking Nigeria’s return to top flight golf event since Oche Odoh last led Nigeria’s campaign in 2024.

He finished behind Deus Willy and Paul Chidale, posting +6 in the opening rounds, but now has his second round to fight for a stake in the winning purse and world ranking points.

“I will give it a fight, but my joy is that I am able to speak for my colleagues back at home with this performance here and overall that Nigerian golfers have come of age,” Olapade said.

The Nigerian professional, who won both the Ivory Coast Open and Ghana Open in addition to winning the biggest professional purse in Nigeria in 2024 in succession, also said a lot of players of Nigerian players can excel on the continent if they get the right support.

Meanwhile, Odoh, who alongside Gift Willy are the standby players for the Kenyan event, has described Olapade as an example of golfing talent that Nigeria can boast of.

“I think the Magical Kenya Open Sunday is playing this week is the biggest feat of his career. He has more miles to walk on his professional journey,” Odoh said.

The Magical Kenya Open is one of the few European Tour events hosted in Africa and a good performance for Olapade could earn him placement in more European Tour schedules.