Junaid Manji surged to the top of the 2025 NCBA Kenya Junior Strokeplay Championship leaderboard after a blistering second round at Muthaiga Golf Club, flipping the standings with a composed and confident performance.
After opening with a five-over-par 76 that left him in fourth, Manji found his groove in round two, carding five birdies to finish with an impressive one-over-par 72. His two-round total of six-over-par 148 gives him a three-stroke lead heading into the weekend.
“I stayed calm, played my game, and trusted my swing,” said Manji, now in pole position to claim the title with two rounds left.
🏆 Beiju Fades, Shah Slips, But Manji Rises
Overnight co-leader Krish Beiju couldn’t match his day-one form and dropped to second place after a difficult round.
Krish Shah had an up-and-down day that included three birdies, four bogeys, and three double bogeys. His round of 80 left him at nine-over-par 151, still within striking range but needing a bounce-back.
🔥 Kevin Anyien’s Comeback Lights Up Muthaiga
The performance of the day belonged to Kevin Anyien, who wasn’t even in the top ten after round one. Following a rough 82 on day one, Anyien delivered a dramatic turnaround with the lowest score of the day — a one-under-par 70.
That round featured five birdies, two bogeys, and a single double bogey, bringing his total to ten-over-par 152.
“I knew I had to go low to stay in it. I just focused on one shot at a time,” Anyien said.
He now sits just four shots behind Manji, with momentum clearly on his side.
👧 Kanana Muthomi Leads the Girls’ Pack
Kanana Muthomi continues to hold her own among the boys, posting a solid 76 in round two to sit at 14-over-par 156. Currently in seventh place overall, she remains the top-ranked girl in the tournament and a dark horse for a podium finish.
❌ Big Names Miss Cut as Field Narrows to 32
Only 32 of the original 99 players advanced past the cut line.
Among the early exits was Ivan Nalima, who admitted to falling short of expectations.
“My putting let me down. I’ll take the lessons and come back stronger,” Nalima said after his exit.
Also bowing out was Kayden Wissanji, who was forced to withdraw due to injury despite a promising front nine.
“I pushed as far as I could, but the pain was too much. I had to make the tough call,” he shared.
⛳ Eyes on the Weekend: Can Manji Hold On?
With round three teeing off at 7:00 a.m., all eyes will be on Manji as he looks to fend off a hungry chasing pack. But with Kevin Anyien heating up and seasoned players like Shah and Beiju in striking distance, the championship is far from decided.
