Dismas Indiza in action during Round One of the Absa Invitational Series at Thika Greens Golf Resort/HANDOUT



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Kakamega Sports Club professional Dismas Indiza seized early control of the Absa Invitational, the ninth leg of the Sunshine Development Tour East Africa Swing, with a five-under-par 66 at Thika Greens Golf Resort.

Indiza started with an eagle on the second hole, birdies on the fourth and sixth, completing a bogey-free front nine. He added birdies on the 13th and 14th, dropped a single shot on the 11th to finish top of the leaderboard.

“It was a good start. The eagle early on settled me and helped with confidence,” Indiza said. “The course is in good condition and there is still a lot of golf to be played. The focus now is to keep the same approach over the next two rounds.”

A three-way tie for second place on three-under par was shared by Mutahi Kibugu (Nyeri), Taimur Malik (Limuru) and Willy Deus (Uganda).

Kibugu carded birdies on holes 1, 4, 10, and 13, with a single bogey on the 15th.

“I just need to stick to my game plan, stay confident and not shy away from winning,” he said.

Malik had birdies on 2, 5, 6, and 17, with a bogey on 4. Deus, who had birdies on 2, 4, 7, 14, and 17, with bogeys on 5 and 11, said, “Any time you finish under par, you take it. My ball striking was spot on today.”

Joint fifth place at two-under par featured Greg Snow (Muthaiga), Zimbabwe’s Visitor Mapwanya and Mohit Mediratta.

Four players tied for eighth at one-under par, including Nigeria’s Sunday Olapade, Njoroge Kibugu (Royal Nairobi), Kenya’s Jacob Okello and David Wakhu.

The Absa Invitational offers a Sh2m prize purse, Official World Golf Ranking points, World Amateur Golf Ranking points, Sunshine Development Tour Order of Merit points and qualification for the 2026 Magical Kenya Open.

Absa Bank Kenya Mount Kenya Regional Manager, Timothy Kosgey, said they take pride in supporting local and regional professionals as the sport gains traction within the region.

“We are delighted to see our professional players compete against talent from Nigeria, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania, and happy to see the two ladies (Naomi Wafula and Joyce Wanjiru) position themselves prominently in this male-dominated sport," he said.