The 2025 NCBA Kenya Junior Match Play Championship began at Sigona Golf Club on Tuesday, drawing 80 of the country’s leading junior golfers in pursuit of the coveted “R&A Trophy”.

In the opening stroke play qualifier, Sigona’s own Yuvraj Rajput posted an assured even-par (E) round, securing a slim one-shot lead over fellow home club player Junaid Ayaz Manji at +1.

Muthaiga Golf Club’s Bianca Ngecu followed at +3, with Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club’s Lee Kimathi close behind at +4, keeping the race for the top spots fiercely contested.

Only the top 32 players from this first round will move into the next three days of match play, where head-to-head duels can swing on a single hole.

From here, the challenge changes shape. Only

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The Junior Golf Foundation (JGF) identifies this as the sole match play tournament in its annual calendar, with points counting towards both the JGF Order of Merit (OOM) and the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR).

NCBA supports the event and is part of the JGF’s broader efforts to develop the next generation of Kenyan golfing talent, offering young players a platform to compete at a high level while gaining valuable ranking points.

Play on Tuesday was briefly delayed by unfavourable weather conditions, but the setback did little to dampen the competitive spirit on the course.

With the margins so tight after day one, the upcoming match play rounds are set to deliver tense finishes and decisive moments as the field narrows towards a champion.