Shawn Malesi Leads Round One of NCBA Mt Kenya Junior Championship

What changed

Shawn Malesi of Royal Nairobi Golf Club leads the first round of the second NCBA Mt Kenya Junior Open after shooting a two-under-par 70 at Nyeri Golf Club. Hetansh Shah of Sigona Golf Club is two shots back on 72, while Yuvraj Singh Rajput is third on 74.

Maryam Mwakitawa leads the girls’ competition with 79. The three-day championship has brought together 56 junior golfers.

Why it matters

This is more than an opening leaderboard. Because the tournament is World Amateur Golf Ranking-ranked and contributes to the Junior Golf Foundation Order of Merit, each round gives the players a chance to build ranking points while testing themselves in stronger competition.

The venue also matters. The Junior Golf Foundation’s decision to stage a regional event in Mt Kenya expands the competitive circuit beyond Kenya’s traditional junior-golf centres. Players from different parts of the country are competing, sharing experience and measuring their progress against a wider field.

Malesi has the best position after day one, but the championship remains open. The next major checkpoint is the NCBA North Rift Junior Open, scheduled for 13th, 15th November 2026, as the JGF’s November regional series continues.