Sandhu stuns field to claim fourth Strokeplay crown at Vet Lab
By Alex Njue, August 5, 2025Jay Sandhu’s final round turnaround game won him the 2025 Kenya Amateur Strokeplay Championship at the par-72 Vet Lab Sports Club with a score of two over par 290 (75, 73, 70, 72), bagging his historic fourth title that comes with a Ksh130,000 purse and direct entry into the 2026 Magical Kenya Open (MKO).
The final round on Sunday witnessed a thrilling contest as Sandhu produced a composed and strategic performance to overcome overnight leader Michael Karanga, who had topped the leaderboard for three consecutive rounds before a final round turnaround where Sandhu only needed one shot to handshake Michael Karanga.
The win thus confirmed Sandhu as the second amateur, after Michael Karanga, who had sealed his slot a week earlier at Sigona Golf Club.
The MKO is part of the DP World Tour, offering local amateurs a rare opportunity to compete against world-class professionals.
After his win, Sandhu told People Sports, “It’s an incredible feeling to win this for my fourth time, and I’m grateful to have done it at such a competitive course. The course was in great shape, but very challenging with the pin positions and the pressure of maintaining my lead in the final round. I am honoured to represent Kenya in the Magical Kenya Open next year, and I’m grateful to everyone who has supported me throughout this journey.”
He previously won the Kenya Amateur Strokeplay Championship in 2020.
The championship attracted 144 players, including international participants from Rwanda, South Africa, Zambia, Mauritius, Ethiopia and Tanzania, making it one of the most competitive events in the region this season.
Home player Ebill Omollo “Komatsu” settled for a third-place finish with a score of +6, Isaac Makokha of Kenya Railway finished fourth with +10, while the quartet of Adel Balala, John Lejirma, Elvis Muigua and Daniel Kiragu shared spoils by settling for a tied fifth place with a score of +12.
The four-day tournament was the final leg of the Kenya Swing Series, which began with the Kabete Open and continued with the Kenya Amateur Strokeplay Championship at Sigona Golf Club.
Kenya Golf Union (KGU) chairman, speaking at the closing ceremony, praised the players’ high standards and sportsmanship.
He noted, “Jay’s victory is a testament to the depth of talent we are nurturing in this country. The Kenya Amateur Strokeplay Championship continues to be a cornerstone event for elite amateurs, and we are thrilled to see our golfers progressing to global platforms like the Magical Kenya Open.”
KGU also extended gratitude to Vet Lab Sports Club for hosting the event and providing a world-class golfing environment, as well as to NCBA Bank for their unwavering support of amateur golf in Kenya.
The championship now sets the stage for the next major event on the amateur calendar: the Karen Challenge, scheduled for next weekend at Karen Country Club.