NCBA Royal Classic champion Daniel Nduva (R) receives his trophy from NCBA Group Director for Marketing, Communication and Citizenship Nelly Wainaina/HANDOUT
Daniel Nduva staged a stunning back-nine comeback to claim his maiden Sunshine Development Tour title and a Sh400,000 winner's cheque after winning the NCBA Royal Classic at Royal Nairobi Golf Club on Tuesday.
The Nyali Golf and Country Club professional carded a level-par 72 in the final round to finish the tournament on three-under-par 213, edging a tightly contested field in the second leg of the 2026/27 Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing.The event attracted 96 local and international professionals and amateurs competing for a share of the Sh2 million prize purse, as well as Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), and Sunshine Development Tour Order of Merit points.
Nduva's victory appeared unlikely after a difficult front nine that included bogeys at the first and eighth holes and a double bogey on the seventh, leaving him with ground to cover heading into the closing stretch.
However, the coast-based golfer mounted an impressive recovery, firing birdies on the 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th and 17th holes to surge into contention and ultimately secure the biggest victory of his professional career.
"It feels really good to get this win. The front nine was challenging and I had a few unlucky breaks, but I stayed patient and kept believing in my game," said Nduva. "On the back nine, I hit every fairway and every green, and that gave me the confidence to attack the pins and create birdie opportunities. My driving was probably the strongest part of my game today."
The victory marked a significant milestone for Nduva, who battled injury setbacks last year before returning to winning form.
"Last year I struggled with injury, so to come back and win again means a lot to me. This victory is a reminder that golf is about staying patient, fighting through difficult moments and believing in yourself even when things are not going your way," he added.
The battle for the title remained intense throughout the final round, with six players sharing second place on one-under-par 215.
The group comprised Kenya's John Lejirma, Rwanda's Celestin Nsanzuwera, Kenya's David Wakhu and Greg Snow, amateur Adel Balala, and Nigeria's Sunday Olapade, who had started the day as the overnight leader.
Each of the six players earned Sh114,833 from the tournament's prize fund. Snow took positives from his performance despite narrowly missing out on the title. "Royal Nairobi is always a demanding course and you have to stay patient because opportunities can come at any time.
Finishing tied for second is still a positive result and gives me confidence heading into the next events," he said. Lejirma, who has continued to impress since turning professional, said the experience would aid his development.
"There are definitely positives I can take from my game, even though I would have loved to get over the line. As a new professional, every tournament is an opportunity to learn, improve and continue building momentum for the season," he said.
Balala was encouraged by his ability to compete alongside established professionals.
"It's encouraging to be in contention against such a strong professional field. I'll take the lessons from this week and continue working hard on my game," he said.
Overnight leader Olapade admitted he was disappointed not to convert his advantage into victory but remained optimistic about the season ahead.
"It was a tough final round and unfortunately I couldn't maintain the momentum from yesterday, but that's golf. I'll take the positives from the week and continue working hard as the season progresses," he said.
The NCBA Royal Classic was the second event of the 2026/27 Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing season, following the opening leg at Thika Sports Club won by Rwanda's Celestin Nsanzuwera.
Attention now shifts to the next leg of the circuit at VetLab Sports Club from June 14 to 16, where players will continue their pursuit of Sunshine Tour progression opportunities and valuable Order of Merit points in an increasingly competitive East Africa Swing season.
