This archive report was first published on 1 July 2019.
On July 1, 2019, South African golfer Toto Thimba made history by becoming the first black golfer to win the coveted blue jacket at the KCB Karen Masters.
Thimba, a 33-year-old professional from Mamelodi's Silver Lakes Country Club, beat Portuguese golfer Stephen Ferreira by three strokes to claim the top trophy and a Sh2.4mn winner's purse.
The Sunshine Tour event, which was held at the par 72 Karen County Club in Nairobi, Kenya, saw Thimba pull through with back-to-back birdies on holes 15, 16, and 17, while Ferreira parred to finish second.
Thimba's tournament record of 26 under par 262 was a testament to his exceptional skills, and he was at it again with a Pro-Am victory on Tuesday.
"Every time I go to play in Africa I am always treated well by the home fans. I mean, the crowd which has trailed me over the last two days made me feel like I am home. It wasn't easy fighting with Stephen, but I made it look easy going into the last four holes," Thimba said.
"I played well but Steve was quite aggressive. I have had to contend with immense pressure over the last the days but had great attitude this week. The win will definitely open the mighty doors of opportunity in the bigger Tours," Thimba added.
