Junaid Manji surged to the summit of the 2025 NCBA Kenya Junior Strokeplay Championship leader board after a powerful second round performance that overturned the early standings and left overnight leader Krish Beiju trailing behind.

Manji, who had ended the first round in fourth place with a five-over-par 76, turned up the heat in round two at Muthaiga Golf Club, sinking five birdies to card an impressive one-over-par 72.

That effort brought his overall score to six-over-par 148, placing him three strokes ahead of his nearest challenger.

Krish Beiju, who had started day two in joint lead, failed to replicate his earlier form and slipped into the second position.

Meanwhile, Krish Shah struggled through a turbulent second round, managing three birdies but losing ground due to four bogeys and three costly double bogeys.

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His round-two score of 80 saw him finish on nine-over-par 151 — three strokes behind the new leader.

The spotlight of the day, however, swung to Kevin Anyien, who had not even featured in the top ten after round one.

Anyien had opened the tournament with a round of 11-over-par 82, managing just one birdie.

But he delivered a stunning comeback in round two with five birdies, two bogeys, and a single double bogey for a score of one-under-par 70 — the lowest round of the day.

Despite that stellar effort, his overall ten-over-par 152 keeps him four shots adrift of Manji.

Top-performing girl Kanana Muthomi currently sits in seventh place. Her day-two score of 76 brought her total to 14-over-par 156, and with two rounds to go, she faces a tough challenge to make the podium.

The field has thinned drastically as only 32 of the original 99 entrants made the cut.

Ivan Nalima was among those who failed to progress, expressing disappointment with his second-round display.

“My day two was less than what I wanted to do, but I made a few mistakes I can learn from. Me personally I just didn’t get my expectations, my putting let me down,” Nalima explained.

Elsewhere, Kayden Wissanji’s title hopes came to an abrupt end after he was forced to withdraw due to injury midway through round two.

He had collected two birdies and three bogeys on the front nine before making the decision to retire.

“My day two was quite an adventure. I was unfortunately forced to withdraw due to an injury. It is always hard to play with an injury, so I did as much as I could, but yeah, I had to withdraw,” he said.

With two more rounds ahead and tee-off for round three set for 7 a.m., the championship remains wide open, but it is Junaid Manji who holds the advantage heading into the weekend.