Kenya captain Belinda Wanjiru

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

South Africa national junior team took a commanding lead as the 2026 All Africa Junior Golf Teams Championships round one ended at the par 72 Windsor Golf and Country Club.

Kenya settled for the second spot after the first 18-holes in the annual continental showpiece that has brought together 14 countries.

South Africa represented by Andries Van Der Vyver, Cilliers Craig, Dewan De Bruin, Roelof Craig, Phenyo Sebata, Lourenda Steyn and Casey Twidale managed a joint score of eight under. Andries Van Der Vyver who managed a personal score of four under par 72, the best score of the day anchored them. He had a brilliant first nine, where he picked a birdie on the par four first hole, dropped a shot on the per four second hole, before sinking four more birdies on holes three, five, six and nine.

His compatriot Phenyo Sebata had the second best score for the day, managing three under par 72. Dewan De Bruin also from South Africa said he was happy that his team had taken a commanding lead in the competition despite the fact that he did not register a score that he expected.

“It’s my first time in Kenya and I love it here. Today I was hitting the ball well today, striking it well played level 72, so it was not a bad day in out, but I just didn’t find the bottom of the cup. The course is in a great condition, it is a tough layout, but was a bit slow for me. Now I’m focused to play ggod golf in the last two days and just enjoy myself,” De Bruin said.

Team Kenya made up of Tsevi Soni, Junaid Ayaz Manji, Yuvraj Rajput, Mwathi Gicheru, Bianca Ngecu, Kanana Muthomi and Belinda Wanjiru secured the second spot on the leader board on a joint score of 11 over at the end of the first day.

Tsevi Soni 16, registered the best score for the home team, managing level par 72, while Junaid Ayaz Manji had one over par 73 and Bianca Ngechu was the best placed girl player in the team on three over par.

Kenya’s Bianca Ngechu

Soni began his round with a false start, playing a bogey on the par 4 hole one, but recovered with a birdie on the par 5 hole three to finish the first nine on level par 36. He had an identical score on the back nine.

“I had a pretty good starting round, but it could have definitely been a lot better. No many mistakes today, I hitted the ball well today, putted well, chipped well. I can’t complain,” said Soni.

He added: “In the last two rounds I just want to control my game and avoid dropping any shots.”

Bianca Ngechu said: “My day one was ok, I started off well and I enjoyed my game. The front nine was raining and I really struggled with my putting, but in the second nine, my putting was much better. Now I want to work on my short game in the remaining two days to register better scores.”

“Today was quite tough. My first nine was just ok, but in the second nine things were not working, putts were not dropping. My chipping was also not so good today and some greens like on hole 18 had a lot of sand and it was very difficult to judge on speed,” top junior golfer Kanana Muthomi said after scoring four over par 72.

Namibia finished the first day third on the leader board on 27 over, while Morocco was fourth on 29 over and Tanzania was fifth on 35 over. Egypt was bottom of the leader board on 87 over after the first round.

Tournament Director James Ondigo said: “We have witnessed some beautiful golf today and expect even better golf in the final two days. The event has attracted 89 players from 14 countries and Kenya has so far given a good account of themselves, finishing the first round perched on second spot on the leader board.”

Leaderboard After Round One:

1. South Africa -8
2. Kenya +11
3. Namibia +27
4. Morocco +29
5. Tanzania +35
6. Uganda +37
7. Zimbabwe +37
8. Cote D’Ivore +37
9. Botswana +52
10. Mauritius +54
11. Tunisia +62
12. Zambia +70
13. Ghana +71
14. Egypt +87

By AMANDA DAMARIS

The 2026 All Africa Junior Team Championship (AAJTC) officially commenced today at the Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club with a colourful hoisting of flags and the singing of national anthems from 14 participating nations, signalling the start of Africa’s premier junior golf competition.
The ceremony saw teams from Kenya, South Africa, Morocco, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mauritius, Egypt, Tunisia, Namibia, Botswana, Ghana, Tanzania, and Côte d’Ivoire march in a grand entrance, showcasing the unity and talent of the continent’s next generation of golfers.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Principal Secretary for the State Department for Sports, Mr Elijah Mwangi, reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to sports tourism and talent development:
“It is a proud moment for Kenya to host the continent’s finest young golfers. The Government’s investment in this championship is a testament to our commitment to providing opportunities for our young athletes to have the exposure they need to transition into global professionals. The course is ready, the teams are primed, and we look forward to a week of exceptional golf that highlights Kenya as a premier sporting hub.”
Following the ceremony, the tournament organising committee released the Day One start list, confirming that the first round of competition will begin tomorrow morning, Tuesday, March 24th, at 8:00 AM. The opening match at the first tee will see a high-stakes female pairing featuring Kenya’s Kanana Muthomi, Zambia’s Deborah Changa, and Uganda’s Elizabeth Danelle Kawalya.
Meanwhile, the boys’ competition will see intense action on the 10th tee, with top-ranked juniors like Kenya’s Yuvraj Rajput set to take on the challenging Windsor course.

On his part, the President of the Africa Golf Confederation (AGC), Johnson Omolo, underscored the tournament’s importance as a global gateway:
“Today, we have raised 14 flags, but we stand under one banner of African excellence. This championship is more than a tournament; it is the definitive proving ground for our youth. As these players tee off tomorrow, they are not just playing for a trophy, but for the honour of representing Africa at the Toyota Junior Golf World Cup in Japan. We are grateful to Kenya for providing a stage that meets world-class standards.”
Tournament Snapshot
● Format: 72-hole stroke play (Team and Individual)
● Dates: March 24th – 26th, 2026 (Rounds 1-3)
● Stakes: Top teams qualify for the Junior Golf World Cup (Japan)
● Venue: Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club
● Participating Nations: 14 African Countries
Fans and members of the public are invited to follow the action live at Windsor or via the official Junior Golf Foundation (JGF) digital platforms.