RWANDA’S lead professional golfer Jean Baptista Hakizimana defied odds to win the 18th Rwanda Golf Open over the weekend at the Par 72 Kigali Golf Club in Nyarutarama.

Hakizimana fired an amazing 292 over the four days to overcome Kenyan challenge led by second-placed Dismas Indiza, Simon Ngigi and Richard Ainley.

Hakizimana played 71 and 71 in the opening two days to make the cut where he registered 75, 75 to beat Indiza who had a total score of 297. 

"It’s a big achievement for me. It has given me much confidence ahead of the prestigious Tony Jacklin West Florida golf tour set for August to December in the US later this year,” Hakizimana told Times Sport yesterday.

"It is not always easy to beat Indiza but having achieved this feat, I hope to even stage a good show in US,” added Hakizimana.

Kenyan trio of Richard Ainley, Simon Ngigi and Sullvian Muthugia were tied in third position with a total score of 300.

Rwanda’s Ernest Ndayisenga and former champion Emmanuel Ruterana finished in a distant 5th and 6th positions respectively.

Uganda’s Deo Akope failed to make it into the final round as he missed the cut after the first two days.

The four-day event attracted a record number of over 100 amateur and 30 professional players in the annual tourney whose theme was "Celebrating 20 years of Liberation”.

Emmanuel Rutayisire dethroned former champion, Aphrodis Nyirinkwaya to win the amateur category with a total score of 311 over four days.