Participants at the AAJGTC pull their golf carts during today’s round.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Team Kenya boys and girls maintained their second spot position on the leader board after the second round of the All Africa Junior Teams Golf Championships at the par 72 Windsor Golf and Country Club today. Click this link https://a.meridianbet.ke/c/C7pYjz to start gaming and stand a chance of winning big with Meridianbet.

South Africa stretched their lead to open an unsalable lead going into tomorrow’s final round where the best two teams in the boys’ competition and one in the girls’ competition will qualify to the World Junior Championchips in Japan in June.

In the boys’ competition, South Africa represented by Andries Van Der Vyver, Cilliers Craig, Dewan De Bruin and Roelof Craig opened a 30-point lead as they are at 18 under, while hosts Kenya who are represented by Mwathi Gicheru, Junaid Ayaz Manji, Tsevi Soni, Yuvraj Rajput follow in the second spot on 12 over. Uganda and Morocco completed the top three list tied on third spot.

South Africa’s 16-year old Andries Van Der Vyver continued with his round one form as he gannered seven under par 72 during today’s round after sinking four birdies on the first nine and sinking three birdies on the second nine to finish the second day with an individual of 11under. His team mate, Cilliars Craig today played six under par 72 after sinking two birdies in the first nine and registering two eagles on par five hole three and par four hole nine. In the second nine, he dropped two shots on the par 4 11^th hole and par four 16^th hole, but recovered with two birdies on holes four and six.

Kenya’s Belinda Wanjiru

“My golf today was good; I picked it from where I left yesterday. I kept the ball on the greens, my putt was so good, but I am satisfied. Today is a totally different experience from the first day, I’m happy with the weather, it’s warmer and beautiful,” Andries Van Der Vyver said.

Royal Nairobi Golf Club’s Mwathi Gicheru had the best score for the Kenyan team on level par 72 after sinking three birdies and an eagle, but had five bogeys.

In the girls’ competition, South Africa represented by Phenyo Sebata, Lourenda Steyn and Casey Twidale opened an 11-point gap, after finishing the second day on eight under on the leader-board. Kenya who are represented by Bianca Ngecu, Kanana Muthomi and Belinda Wanjiru are second on three over.

Phenyo Sebata anchored South Africa’s scores on three under, after sinking four birdies and dropping a single point.

Boys Leader-board After Round Two:

1. South Africa -18
2. Kenya +12
3. Uganda +18
4. Morocco +18
5. Zimbabwe +25
6. Zambia +27
7. Mauritius +37
8. Botswana +38
9. Namibia +41
10. Ghana +57
11. Egypt +61
12. Tanzania +63
13. Cote D’Ivore +74
14. Egypt +91

Girls Leader-board After Round Two:

1. South Africa -8
2. Kenya +3
3. Morocco +22
4. Tunisia +27
5. Zimbabwe +29
6. Uganda +47
7. Ghana +57

Botswana                    +57

8. Mauritius +70
9. Zambia +92
10. Egypt +108

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