NCBA Kabete Open 2026 Champion John Kamaisi in action during the final round of the NCBA Kabete Open at VetLab Sports Club/HANDOUT
Nakuru Golf Club’s John Kamaisi tightened his grip on the 2026 Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) rankings despite settling for second place at the NCBA Coast Open ‘Barry Cup’ in Mombasa.
Kamaisi, who was beaten to the title by Rwanda’s Jean D’Amour Hitayezu of Kigali Golf Resort & Villas, increased his tally to 809.20 points to extend his lead at the top of the KAGC Order of Merit.
Muthaiga Golf Club’s Jay Sandhu remains second with 640.00 points, followed by Elvis Muigua on 495.26. Eugine Wafula occupies fourth place with 472.26 points, while William Odek completes the top five on 409.56.
At Mombasa Sports Club, Hitayezu produced a composed final-round performance to clinch the Barry Cup with a three-round total of 210 (-3), finishing two strokes ahead of Kamaisi, who signed for 212 (-1) after rounds of 65, 73 and 74.
Kamaisi had stormed into the lead with a brilliant opening-round 65 but was unable to sustain the pace over the closing two rounds, allowing Hitayezu to seize control and secure victory.
Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club’s Elvis Muigua finished third on 217 (+4), Vet Lab Sports Club’s Wasim Ali placed fourth on 219 (+6), while Golf Park Golf Club’s Josphat Rono rounded off the top five on 220 (+7).
The victory propelled Hitayezu to 11th in the KAGC standings with 342 points. Attention now turns to the crucial Kenya Swing, which begins with the Limuru Open & Brackenhurst Trophy at Limuru Country Club from July 17-19 before the Kenya Amateur Stroke Play Championship at Royal Nairobi Golf Club from July 23-26.
The swing concludes with the Kenya Amateur Match Play Championship from July 30 to August 2. The three tournaments are expected to significantly shape the KAGC title race, with valuable World Amateur Golf Ranking and Order of Merit points up for grabs.
\Meanwhile, the NCBA Golf Series continued at Kitale Golf Club during the Monthly Mug, where Willie Kwambai, playing off handicap 21, claimed the overall title with an impressive 67 nett.
Wilson Wafula won the gross category with 78 gross. Patrick Shikuku claimed the Division One title with 71 nett off handicap 11, while Nick Mwai and Margaret Wabuge won Divisions Two and Three with scores of 68 nett and 71 nett, respectively.
Kwambai, Wafula, Shikuku, Mwai and Wabuge all secured qualification for the NCBA Golf Series Grand Finale at Karen Country Club on November 28. The series heads to Nyanza Golf Club on July 18, where golfers will have another opportunity to book their places in the season-ending finale.
