Kamaisi clinches NCBA Kabete Open to go top of KAGC order of merit

Kamaisi carded a one-over-par 73 in the final round to finish on a three-over-par total of 219, having opened the tournament with rounds of 74 and 72. His consistent display kept him in contention throughout the three-day event as he held off a strong field of 130 golfers from across East Africa.

The victory comes just weeks after his triumph at the NCBA Kiambu Open and propels him to the top of the KAGC Order of Merit standings with 736 points after 13 events. He overtakes Muthaiga Golf Club's Jay Sandhu, who drops to second on 630 points.

For his victory, Kamaisi received KES 115,600 from the tournament's KES 500,000 prize purse.

Speaking after lifting the trophy, Kamaisi said he was delighted to emerge victorious in one of the toughest tournaments on the KAGC calendar.

"I'm delighted to win the NCBA Kabete Open. It's one of the toughest tournaments on the KAGC calendar, so to come out on top against such a strong field is very satisfying. I stayed patient throughout the three rounds, trusted my game, and I'm happy it paid off. Going top of the Order of Merit gives me confidence heading into the next stretch of the season, but there's still a lot of golf to be played."

VetLab Sports Club's Ebill Omollo finished second after signing for a one-over-par 73 in the final round to end the tournament on six-over-par 222. The reigning NCBA Coronation & Bendor Trophy champion remained among the frontrunners throughout the week and earned KES 69,400 for his runner-up finish.

Reflecting on his performance, Omollo remained optimistic despite narrowly missing out on the title.

"It was a competitive tournament, and I'm pleased with how I fought throughout the weekend. Of course, everyone comes here aiming to win, but finishing second keeps me in a good position as we head into the next events. I'll take the positives from this week, keep working on my game, and look forward to the challenges ahead."

Third place was shared by Muthaiga Golf Club's Jay Sandhu and VetLab's Kushagra Sharma, who both finished on eight-over-par 224. Sandhu recovered from an opening-round 81 with rounds of 71 and 72, while Sharma posted rounds of 74, 78 and 72. Each player received KES 40,000.

Kenya Golf Union Vice-Chairman Jonathan Marucha praised the high standard of competition witnessed throughout the tournament, noting the continued growth of the KAGC circuit.

"The NCBA Kabete Open once again demonstrated the high standard of amateur golf we continue to witness on the KAGC circuit. The quality of competition has been exceptional, and it's encouraging to see both established players and emerging talent consistently raising the level of the game."

He added that the battle for the Order of Merit is expected to intensify as the season enters a crucial phase.

"As we head into the Coast Open and the Kenya Swing, we expect the competition to become even more intense as players battle for valuable Order of Merit and World Amateur Golf Ranking points. We thank NCBA for its continued support, which has been instrumental in strengthening the amateur game and providing golfers with quality competitive opportunities throughout the season."

The KAGC circuit now heads to Nyali Golf & Country Club for the NCBA Coast Open, scheduled for July 3 to 5.

Attention will then turn to the highly anticipated Kenya Swing, beginning with the Limuru Open & Brackenhurst Trophy at Limuru Country Club from July 17 to 19. The series will continue with the Kenya Amateur Stroke Play Championship at Royal Nairobi Golf Club from July 23 to 26 before concluding with the Kenya Amateur Match Play Championship from July 30 to August 2.

The Kenya Swing is expected to play a decisive role in the race for the KAGC title, with valuable World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) and Order of Merit points on offer as players battle for supremacy in the second half of the season.