L. MathekaAshun clinches 2022 Magical Kenya Open title
Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 06.03.22. | 17:42
Kenya's only golfer to make cut, Njoroge Kibugu, played six over par 77 on the final round to finish in 64th place at two over par total.
Chinese golfer, Wu Ashun carded four rounds of under par, gradually growing in the competition, to win 2022 Magical Kenya Open on 16 under par 268.
The win enhances the 36-year oldest record as the DP World Tour's most successful Chinese golfer as he became a four-time winner with victory at the par 71 Muthaiga Golf Course.
Thumbs up to Njoroge Kibugu despite droping six shots today, Hongera you did us proud🇰🇪#MKO2022 ⛳🏌🏽♂️ pic.twitter.com/Ul2Cfjt5Pj
— Magical Kenya Open (@KenyaOpenGolf) March 6, 2022
Despite, trailing overnight leader Ewen Ferguson, by four shots heading to the final round, Ashun stuck to his game plan, making four birdies in a row from the seventh, signing for a closing 65 for the day.
Wu became the third Chinese winner in DP World Tour history when he won the 2015 Volvo China Open and since then he has added wins in Austria and the Netherlands, with this win moving him two victories ahead of countryman Li Haotong.
Ashu wins the Magical Kenya Open on his debut. #MKO2020 #AbsaPresentsMKO2022 @AbsaKenya pic.twitter.com/Ac0DHKPegQ
— Stephen Musyoka (@smusyoka) March 6, 2022
A two-time winner on the Japan Golf Tour, he will move up to sixth on the Race to Dubai Rankings after triumphing in his 158th appearance with his wife and 13-week-old baby watching on at Muthaiga.
"It is a big celebration, I am so happy with my family here. It is a good feeling today to win a championship. It was very tough today, I played very and made seven birdies," an elated Ashun said.
How do you pronounce the #MagicalKenyaOpen on Mandarin?
— Charles Gacheru (@CharlesGacheru) March 6, 2022
Ashun Wu becomes the first Chinese 🇨🇳 golfer to win the event #MagicalKenya @DPWorldTour pic.twitter.com/m3HwbDqpK0
"After two rounds I told myself if I can make five under every day on the weekend and finish 15 under, I think I'll have a chance to win the tournament. Today I was four shots behind and still playing to my plan. Five under was my goal today and after ten holes I had a good feeling and I told myself I will keep playing and make a couple of birdies and it is fine.
My short game was good today. I saved a couple of pars, my putting was good to make birdies on the 17th and 18th," added the golfer who had carded two and three under in tound one and two respectively.
Canadian Aaron Cockerill, South African Thriston Lawrence and German Hurly Long finished four shots back but Ashun's victory rarely looked in doubt on the back nine as he became the sixth different winner from a sixth different country on the 2022 DP World Tour.
