Sunday Olapade has etched his name in Nigerian golfing history as he proudly represents the nation at the 2025 Magical Kenya Open, a prestigious $2.5 million event on the DP World Tour, Europe’s premier professional golf circuit. The Ikoyi Club golfer teed off on Thursday, February 20, at the Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobi, marking Nigeria’s return to top-flight golf on the European stage for the first time since Oche Odoh’s appearance in 2021.
Olapade earned his spot in this elite competition by securing one of the final three qualification places at the Safari Tour Regional Qualifiers on Monday, finishing just behind Deus Willy and Paul Chidale. His participation underscores a significant moment for Nigerian golf, spotlighting the country’s growing presence in the international arena.
The opening round proved challenging for Olapade, who posted a +6, placing him 14 strokes behind early leaders J. Parry and B. Hubert. Despite the uphill battle, the Nigerian professional remains undeterred, expressing optimism about his prospects in the second round. “I will give it a fight,” Olapade said in a post-round interview. “My joy is that I am able to speak for my colleagues back at home with this performance here, and overall, it shows that Nigerian golfers have come of age.”
Olapade’s journey to the European Tour has been marked by a stellar 2024 season, where he achieved an unprecedented treble in West African golf. He clinched victories at the Cote d’Ivoire Open, Ghana’s PGA Championship, and the CIO Golf Championship in Port Harcourt, demonstrating his dominance and consistency. His latest triumph at the CIO event saw him finish with a brilliant 17-under-par score of 271, outpacing competitors from eight African countries.
Veteran golfer Oche Odoh, who is on standby for the Magical Kenya Open alongside Gift Willy, hailed Olapade’s achievement as a career-defining milestone. “I think the Magical Kenya Open is the biggest feat of his career,” Odoh remarked. “He has more miles to walk on his professional journey, and as colleagues, we are here to cheer him on.” Odoh, a former standard-bearer for Nigerian golf, also emphasized the potential for more Nigerian players to excel globally with the right support.
The Magical Kenya Open, one of the few DP World Tour events hosted on the African continent, offers Olapade a platform to compete for a share of the lucrative purse and valuable world ranking points. A strong showing could pave the way for additional appearances on the European Tour, further elevating his profile and that of Nigerian golf.
“A lot of players of Nigerian descent can compete at the highest level if they get the right backing,” Olapade noted, echoing a sentiment shared by many in the Nigerian golfing community. His performance in Kenya is not just a personal quest for glory but a beacon of hope for aspiring golfers back home, signaling that the sport’s future in Nigeria is brighter than ever.
As Olapade prepares for the second round on Friday, February 21, all eyes will be on this trailblazing golfer as he strives to make a mark on the European Golf Tour and inspire a new generation of Nigerian talent.
