By KPC Reporter
Kevin Anyien staged a remarkable final-round comeback to clinch the 3rd NCBA Great Rift Valley Championship title on Sunday, February 15, during the third leg of the 2026 Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) Series held at the Great Rift Valley Resort in Naivasha.
The Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club golfer delivered a calm and clinical closing performance, carding rounds of 75, 76, and a superb 69 to finish on seven-over-par 220 and secure the championship.
Clubmate Kamoza Longwe settled for second place on 10-over-par 223 after rounds of 78, 74, and 71, while home player Kevin Barasa completed the podium in third at 12-over-par 225.
Wasim Ali of Vet Lab Sports Club finished fourth on 226 (+13), with Isaac Makokha and Stephen Gichari tied for fifth on 227 (+14).
The victory lifts Anyien to fifth place on the 2026 KAGC Order of Merit standings with 110 points. Rising star Junaid Manji continues to lead the rankings with 280 points, followed by Rafael Leming’ani (186).
Elvis Muigua sits third with 120 points, while Jacques Byiringiro occupies fourth place on 112.5 points after three legs.
While elite amateurs battled in Naivasha, the spotlight also shone on the country’s budding talent during the NCBA US Kids Golf Local Tour event staged the same day at Vet Lab Sports Club in Nairobi.
Victor Haland claimed top honours in the Boys 6 & Under category with 44 (+8), as Aryan Patel won the Boys 8 division on 42 (+6).
James Tino impressed in Boys 9 with a two-over-par 38, while Mohamed Mtsumi returned one of the sharpest rounds of the day, posting +1 (37) to win the Boys 10 class.
In the older boys’ divisions, Paren Reel (Boys 11) and Shuhan Peng (Boys 13–14) posted +2 and +3 respectively over 18 holes, while Savir Shah topped the Boys 15–18 category with 82 (+10).
The girls’ competition was equally compelling.
Sanayah Sultan led Girls 8 & Under with 46 (+10), Avanti Bongu won Girls 9–10 on 43 (+7), and Aria Dodhia delivered one of the standout performances with +1 (73) in Girls 11–12. Siqian Yu closed the winners’ list with 81 (+9) in Girls 13–14.
Elsewhere, seniors dominated the NCBA Golf Series qualifying leg at Muthaiga Golf Club on Saturday, an event that drew 270 golfers.
Former club captain Rajesh Bhabra emerged Overall Gross Winner after carding 72 Gross off handicap 6, while Nancy Ndungu (handicap 11) secured the Overall Lady Winner title with 86 Gross, reclaiming the crown she last won in 2023.
Bo Ciera finished Male Runner-Up on 77 Gross, as Florence Maina (handicap 13) claimed Lady Runner-Up with 87 Gross.
Junior Peter Mwindi posted 79 Gross for third overall, Dennis Muriithi returned 80 Gross for fourth, and Alpha Ndungu (handicap 6) emerged Junior Winner with 79 Gross.
The top finishers join qualifiers from Royal Nairobi Golf Club and Kericho Golf Club who have already secured slots for the NCBA Golf Series Grand Finale scheduled for November.