Emmanuel Ruterana has finally landed the green light to take part in this year’s Sunshine tour. The confirmation came two days ago after Ruterana and his official sponsors BCR (Rwanda Commercial Bank) had paid up a membership fee estimated at $650.

"The tour is open to only members and to be one, a golfer has to part with a membership fee of $650,” an email from the tour organizers to Kigali Golf Club read in part.

After receiving the green light to take part in South Africa’s most prestigious professional tour, Ruterana said, "I’m thrilled about the news that I will be competing in the tour”.

"I have always dreamed of playing in this tour because it’s one of the best in the world. I believe the tour will be a stepping stone in my professional career,” Ruterana admitted.

The lucrative tour that is based in South Africa is one of the best professional golf tours in the world and boasts of four events co-sanctioned by the European tour namely; HSBC Championship, Alfred Dunhill Championship, South Africa Airways Open and the famous Joburg Open.

The country’s sole professional golfer also established that he has been entered in two subsidiary tournaments that are scheduled for mid-February.

"I have been drawn in two tournaments in mid-February so I will be travelling to South Africa in the first week of February.

"My early departure is meant to help me get acclimatized to the new environment in S.A. I need time to get used to the golf courses out there,” the 26-year-old noted. In his debut season as a professional golfer, Ruterana won over Frw 2 millions worth of prize money.

His finest moment came during the 2007 Rwanda Open when he outscored Uganda’s Deo Akope and Kenya’s Richard Ainsley to bag a premium cash prize of Frw 540,000 courtesy of Tusker.

Ruterana who has intensified his preparations ahead of the tour also revealed that he is looking forward to a one-week build-up in Burundi.

"I have been told that the Burundi golf course and South Africa’s golf courses are very similar so it is very essential for me to have part of my preps in Burundi,” Ruterana said.

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