Tom McKibbin shot a final-round two-under-par 69 to close out a promising week at the Magical Kenya Open as 54-hole leader Jorge Campillo ran out a two-stroke victor.
McKibbin began the day at -7, tied for 17th, but an opening bogey was followed by another at the third as the Holywood man dropped significantly down the leaderboard on a day of generally good scoring. Unable to take advantage of the par-5 fourth as well, it appeared as though it wouldn’t be McKibbin’s day, but a birdie-two at the fifth settled him somewhat, and he added another at the seventh to get back to level for the day and he’d remain at -7 through the turn.
Birdies at the 10th and 12th holes got him to two-under for the round, and though he’d bogey the 13th, he’d pick up another stroke at the 17th and a closing par at the last was enough to see McKibbin post his fourth successive round in the sixties, good for a tied 25th finish.
Campillo began the day with a one-stroke lead over Robert MacIntyre, with the Spaniard birdieing four on the spin to close out his third round, and another four in a five-hole stretch on Sunday’s front nine provided a cushion that he’d maintain throughout.
MacIntyre failed to make any headway on the front nine, trading one birdie with one bogey to fall five behind at the turn and he wasn’t a factor on the back nine.
Campillo would reach the closing hole with a three-stroke advantage over fellow Spaniard Santiago Tarrio and Japanese duo Ryo Hisatsune and Masahiro Kawamura, the latter accompanying Campillo and MacIntyre in the final group.
A regulation par was enough to seal Campillo’s win, the third of his DP World Tour career, as Kawamura birdied to take solo second.
“I was trying to focus so I couldn’t enjoy the moment (walking down 18),” Campillo said afterwards. “You never know in this game. It was a good day to be able to finish the day good, having the lead is not easy and it’s such a special feeling to win a golf tournament. The crowds were quite fun here and you know the history of the tournament is quite nice as well.
“I played great all day, beside that little short putt I missed on 11. It was a good day, after missing that putt I knew I had to play good to win the golf tournament with some tough holes coming up and that birdie on 17, obviously I didn’t win with that birdie but I was definitely closer.
“It’s nice to win three tournaments. I remember coming here on the Challenge Tour, my second Challenge Tour event in 2011 I played this golf course. I never dreamed I would come back here and win my third golf tournament on the DP World Tour, it’s such a nice feeling.
“It’s hard to put my name with those names (Woosnam, Immelman, Ballesteros). With where I’m from, the little town I’m from. I’m very proud. It’s always nice to win a golf tournament, but if you have a name on the trophy with Seve it’s more special for a Spaniard.”
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