-Elsewhere,Martin Mengech Shines at NCBA Golf Series at Nandi Bears Club.
MAARUFU MOHAMED-GOLFNEWSLINKS.
Elly Barno of Nandi Bears Golf Clubs emerged as the champion of the 2025 NCBA Mt.Kenya Championship played Nyeri golf club over the weekend.
Barno displayed exceptional skill throughout the three days tournament, finishing with a score of 3 over par after rounds of 76, 74, and an impressive final round of 69. For a total of 219 gross to take the lead and walked away with Ksh.109,600 as the top prize money.
“This victory means a lot to me,” said Elly Barno. “Winning the NCBA Mt. Kenya Championship, especially in such a strong field, is truly an honor. I’m grateful for the support of my club, my family, and everyone who has been a part of this journey.”
Hitayezu Jean from Rwanda claimed second place with a score of 4 over par while Josphat Rono of Golf Park golf club finished in third with a score of 6 over par.
The NCBA Mt.Kenya Championship that featured elite golfers from across the region is officially recognized as a World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) event, providing players the opportunity to earn valuable ranking points while competing for the championship.
The Tournament Director and Vice Chairman of the Kenya Golf Union Chris Kinuthia expressed gratitude to all sponsors whose contributions made the event successful.
“We extend our heartfelt thanks to our sponsors for their unwavering support, which has allowed us to host such a prestigious tournament. Events like these are crucial for promoting golf in Kenya and nurturing local talent,” said Kinuthia.
He added that as the golf community celebrates Elly Barno’s achievement, the focus shifts to fostering talent and ensuring that future tournaments continue to inspire and elevate the sport across the region.
The next KAGC Series event will be staged at Great Rift Valley Lodge from 14th-16th February 2025.
Established in 1928, the Kenya Golf Union (KGU) is Kenya’s oldest continuous sports organization. Affiliated with the Ministry of Sports & Culture, the Royal & Ancient, and the International Golf Federation, KGU serves as the governing body for golf in Kenya, uniting 38 golf clubs and 2 golfing societies across the nation.
The Union’s core objectives encompass the advancement, promotion, and protection of golfing interests within Kenya.
NCBA Group is a full-service banking group providing a broad range of financial products and services to corporate, institutional, SME, and consumer banking customers.
NCBA Group operates a network of more than 100 branches in five countries including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Ivory Coast. Serving over 60 million customers, the NCBA Group is the largest banking group in Africa by customer numbers.
NCBA Bank Kenya PLC is Kenya’s third-largest bank by assets and the Bank is set to play a key role in supporting Africa’s economic ambitions.
The Bank is a market leader in Corporate Banking, Asset Finance, and Digital Banking.
Elsewhere, Home player handicap 45 Martin Mengech delivered a stellar performance, carding an impressive 46 points to win the overall title at the NCBA golf series at the par-72 Nandi Bears golf club in Nandi County over the weekend.
The tournament saw participation of over 150 golfers drawn from across the region including those from Kakamega, Kericho, and Eldoret golf clubs.
In the Men’s Category, Boaz Sugut, playing off handicap 21, took first place with 39 points, while Joyce Rotich (handicap 31) claimed victory in the Ladies’ Category, scoring an impressive 45 points.
Among the juniors, 14-year-old Protus Ambani shone brightly, delivering a strong performance with 33 points to win the Junior Category.
These top four golfers Mengech, Sugut, Rotich, and Ambani have now qualified for the Grand Finale where they will face off against other winners from the series for the championship title at the end of the year.
In other categories, Nelson Koech emerged as the winner of Longest Drive Men’s challenge while Faith Chemutai claimed the women’s title with her impressive drive. In the Nearest to the Pin challenge, Solomon Atsiaya took the prize for his precision.
Speaking at the event, NCBA Kapsabet Branch Manager Phederesy Wesonga reiterated the bank’s commitment to supporting golf in the region, ensuring that both amateur and professional players have opportunities to compete, improve, and grow within the sport.
“This year we have taken it a notch higher in matters of golf by getting into a partnership with the Professional Golfers of Kenya as a way of completing the cycle, while at the same time extending our involvement with the Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) and the Junior Golf Foundation (JGF),” said Wesonga.
He added, “It is our belief that these partnerships will come in handy this year at all levels, seeking to cater for the needs of the junior golfers, the amateurs, and the professional golfers as well. We believe that golf is not just a sport but an avenue to bring people together, build strong communities and grow in life as we grow in sport.”
The next leg of the series is set to take place at the Malindi Golf Club on February 8th as golfers continue to battle for a place in the Grand Finale.
As part of NCBA Bank’s ongoing commitment to golf development, the 2025 series has expanded, with 159 events scheduled across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda, up from 130 events in 2024.
ENDS.
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