Nigerian professional golfer Godwin Okoko gave himself plaudits for enacting a bright start that placed him within a Four-Way Tie at the 2026 Absa Ruiru Invitational, where he was one of four players at the top after round one of the contest, Sports247 reports.
Okoko joined Daniel Nduva, John Karichu and the defending champion, Dismas Indiza, as early leaders after the opening round of the fifth leg of the Sunshine Development Tour/East Africa Swing, which ends on Tuesday at the par-70 Ruiru Sports Club in Kiambu County, Kenya.
The four players carded 2-under par 68 to set up a tightly contested leaderboard heading into the second round, but Nduva of Nyali Golf & Country Club made the most explosive start, sinking three birdies on the first, second and third holes before adding another on the eighth.
On his part, Okoko completed the four-way tie at the top after carding five birdies on the second, eighth, ninth, 13th and 15th holes, but he dropped shots on the first, fourth and 18th to finish on 2-under par 68, while the defending champion, Dismas Indiza, also twinkled.
While Indiza produced arguably the most controlled round of the day, going bogey-free with birdies on the 10th and 18th holes to return a 2-under par 68, Okoko dropped to sixth spot on the leaderboard at the end of Monday’s play, but the Nigerian said he remained happy with his bright start.
Okoko retorted: “I think it was a good start. I made some good birdies and gave myself chances throughout the round. I had a few dropped shots, especially towards the end, but 2-under is a good position to be in. I just need to stay focused and hopefully put together another good round.”
Sports247 gathered further that the Absa Ruiru Invitational, which enters the final round on Tuesday, has a star prize of two million Kenyan Shillings, with players also competing for Sunshine Development Tour Order of Merit, Official World Ranking and World Amateur Golf Ranking points.
At the end of Monday’s round, another Nigerian professional golfer, Kamalu Bako, was one of six players who shared ninth position on level par, along with Kenya’s David Wakhu, Joseph Karanja, Michael Karanga and Edwin Mudanyi, joined by Uganda’s Philip Kasozi.
