-THE Muthaiga teen beats 79-man field and pockets Ksh. 115,600 after shooting 11-Under to win NCBA Golf Park Open as his year of dreams hits new high and announces himself as Kenya’s new golf star.
-Tournament Director and Kenya Golf Union Vice Chairman Jonathan Marucha could not hide his admiration after the final putt dropped, saying Shashwat’s victory is a strong statement about the progress of junior golf in Kenya.
-NCBA Platinum Relationship Manager Joshua Munga, reiterated the Bank’s commitment to supporting the growth of golf in Kenya, noting that its investment in the sport is driven by a belief in people, their ambitions and their potential to achieve more.
MAARUFU MOHAMED-GOLFNEWSLINKS.
Remember the name-Shashwat Harish, and at just 16 years old, the Muthaiga Golf Club junior has announced his arrival among Kenya’s top amateur golfers in the loudest way possible, claiming his maiden Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) title at the fifth NCBA Golf Park Open.
Harish carded a stunning 11-under-par total of 199 gross over three days at Golf Park Golf Club over the weekend to win by two strokes, beating a competitive field of 79 players and becoming one of the youngest golfers ever to claim a KAGC title.
In a sport where experience is supposed to count for everything, a schoolboy just rewrote the script and in a three days of brilliance, Harish was brilliant from the first tee to the last putt.
He opened with a superb 65 gross, followed it with a solid 67 gross, and closed with another 67 gross, no drama, no collapse, just calm, mature, championship golf and in three rounds, three rounds under par, a total of 199 gross, that is not luck, that is class.
Behind him, the chasing pack could only watch, as John Kamaisi of Nakuru Golf Club finished second on nine-under-par with a total of 201 gross, two shots behind and Rwanda’s Hitayezu Jean D’Amour of Vet Lab Sports Club completed the top three with a three-under-par total of 207 gross.
Kamaisi is an established name, Jean D’Amour is an international visitor with pedigree but Harish at 16, beat them both.
The 2026 edition attracted a maximum field of 79 players, with the nine-hole layout at Golf Park Golf Club accommodating the full field for the event and was a proper KAGC test, over 54 holes of stroke play, and Harish passed it with flying colors.
This was not an overnight miracle. It was the climax of a remarkable year of progress.
Earlier in 2026, Harish played at the prestigious Magical Kenya Open, gaining valuable experience on one of the region’s biggest golfing stages.
To tee it up alongside professionals at Karen, in front of home crowds and television cameras, at 16, is an education no coaching manual can give.
More recently, he helped lead Peponi School to victory at the NCBA Lisle Shaw Memorial Interschool Tournament at Royal Nairobi Golf Club, where he carded an impressive one-under-par round to claim the individual gross title.
Now, add a KAGC title to that list, Magical Kenya Open, Interschool’s champion, KAGC champion, all in one year, all at 16.
Alongside the championship title, Harish walks away with KSh. 115,600 in prize money, further underlining the significance of his achievement.
For a junior, that is not just money, it is belief, it is proof that the hours on the range, the early mornings, the missed parties, were all worth it.
Tournament Director and Kenya Golf Union Vice Chairman Jonathan Marucha could not hide his admiration after the final putt dropped.
“Shashwat’s victory is a strong statement about the progress of junior golf in Kenya. At just 16, he has demonstrated that our young golfers are capable of competing with and beating established amateur players. His performance, together with the experience he has gained at events such as the Magical Kenya Open, shows what is possible when young talent is given the right opportunities and support. We are grateful to NCBA for their continued investment in the game and for helping create platforms where the next generation can thrive,” said Marucha.
NCBA Platinum Relationship Manager Joshua Munga, reiterated the bank’s commitment to supporting the growth of golf in Kenya, noting that its investment in the sport is driven by a belief in people, their ambitions and their potential to achieve more.
“Shashwat’s achievement is a great example of what can happen when talent is matched with opportunity, dedication and the right support. At NCBA, our philosophy of Banking on Belief is about believing in people, their ambitions and their potential to achieve more. We are proud to support platforms such as the KAGC that give golfers opportunities to compete, develop their abilities and realize their ambitions. We remain committed to supporting the growth of the game and creating opportunities for the next generation of golfers,” said Munga.
The Kenya Amateur Golf Championship Series provides a competitive pathway for amateur golfers across the country, with events hosted at different clubs throughout the season.
The inclusion of young players such as Harish among the leading contenders reflects the steady progression of junior golf and the increasing competitiveness of Kenya’s emerging talent.
For years, Kenyan golf has talked about the next generation, about building a pipeline, about giving juniors a chance to play against seniors, not just against each other, and Harish is that pipeline, He is proof that it works.
He is still competing in the junior ranks, but he is now beating the seniors on their own turf, in their own championship, on a course that tests every part of your game.
What next? If he keeps this trajectory, a place in the national team, more starts at the Magical Kenya Open, and a shot at international amateur events are not dreams, they are the next logical steps and for now, though, let the 16-year-old enjoy this one.
He came to Golf Park as a junior with potential, He leaves as a KAGC champion, and Kenyan golf may have just found its next star.
ENDS.
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