It was a great rivalry redefined when Spain and Japan rekindled their rivalry off the Qatar World Cup memories last year to finish inside the top four in the MKO-2023 with the latter getting the top finish in the competition.
Spaniard Jorge Campillo, 36, ensured he maintained his lead on the final day with a perfect end to the 2023 Magical Kenya Open-DP European Tour Event at the Par 71 Muthaiga Golf Club Sunday as he won the title in style with a score of -18 (266).
For his troubles, the Campillo took home Sh 44 million (340,000 USD) including 460 ranking points. This was his third title in the tour, having previously won the 2019 Trophée Hassan II and the 2020 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.
The World No.257 finished on an impressive total of 266 after some good rounds on the course. Save for an unlikely bogey on hole 11, the player was as effective with his shot selection as they come. In the previous three rounds, Campillo had -2 (69), -3 (68) and -8 (63) en route to top status in the leaderboard on Saturday.
“I am so happy to win this tournament, having led from the third round. This is a tricky course and you have to hit the ball well to succeed. I have been here for a while and this is only my third title in the Tour,” he said.
Campillo, however, had to be wary of Japanese players especially fourth placed Ryo Hisatsune who however finished on -15 (65) for a total 269 after his four rounds.
The second finisher was Japanese 30 year player Kawamura Masahiro who is ranked 303 in the World.Masahiro posted a score of -16 (268). He had a score of -4 (67) in Round One,-4 (67) in Round Two,-3 (68) in Round 3 and -5 (66) in the last round of the tournament.
Another Spaniard 33 year old Ben Tarrio Santiago who closed with an excellent birdie in Hole 18 to pick -5 (66) and a total 269 after four rounds also impressed on the course closing at third place.In the opening round of the competition,finished on Par 71 before vastly improving to -3 (68) in Round 2 and -7 (64) and ending on -5 (66).He finished third overall in the competition.
Ryo who is World No.200 had some incredible putting game on the course especially after earning seven birdies in holes 1,4,6,10,14,17 and 18.He only dropped a single shot in hole 13 thus picking bogey in an otherwise error-free afternoon play. In Round 1,Ryo had a score of 70 on the board before improving to 63 in Round 2 but slipped to Par (71) in Round 3 before finishing on 65.
Africa’s highest placed playewer was South African World Ranked 468th who led for the opening two rounds.He finished 10th with a score -13 (271) with three birdies counting for his last round.
