South African Jacques Kruyswijk claimed his maiden DP World Tour title after holding off the challenge of in-form playing partner John Parry 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 sensational 67 to 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 4th and 5th to hit the front.
But Kruyswijk soon hit back, rolling in lengthy birdie putts on the 6th and 7th to lead by one at the turn.
A fine bunker shot on the 10th 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.
Kruyswijk looked comfortable leading from the front, though, continuing to give himself birdie chances and confidently knocking in par putts.
And after Parry’s errant tee-shot on the 14th saw him surrender a bogey there, 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.
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.
Kruyswijk had to hang in there in the early stages of his round, producing a magnificent par save from 10 feet on the 3rd to keep hold of his one-shot lead.
And he responded well to being overtaken at the top by Parry, opening his birdie account by trickling in his 20-footer on the 6th before reclaiming the outright lead with a 12-foot putt at the 7th.
After moving two clear with his birdie on the 10th, Kruyswijk received a reminder that Parry was still breathing down his neck at the 12th as his lead was trimmed to one again.
But Parry’s bogey on the 14th, coupled with Kruyswijk’s superb 18-foot birdie at the 16th, put the South African out of sight and he marched to victory with two closing pars.
“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,” said Kruyswijk.
“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.”
Asked what the support in Kenya has meant to him, Kruyswijk added: “Unbeliveable. 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 said: “I’m very happy with my week. Obviously it didn’t go the way I wanted it today but I played as good as I could, I tried to push him as hard as I could, he just played better on the day really.”
– Report from DP World Tour website
Photo: Luke Walker/Getty Images
