Elly Barno of Nandi Bears Club has set his sights on representing Kenya in international golf competitions following his impressive victory at the NCBA Mt. Kenya Championship at Nyeri Golf Club over the weekend.
Barno staged a stunning final-round comeback to clinch the title, overcoming a slow start to finish with a total score of 219 (+3).
His consistent improvement across the three rounds (76-74-69) saw him edge out a competitive field, marking his second victory in the Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) series.
“It’s a great start to the season, and my goal is to play for Team Kenya this year,” Barno told Golf Score Kenya on Monday morning.
Barno’s journey to the top was far from smooth. He opened the tournament with a four-over-par 76, which placed him in a tie for 10th. In the second round, he improved slightly with a two-over-par 74, moving up to seventh.
However, it was on Sunday that he truly stamped his authority, delivering a tournament-low three-under-par 69 to surge to the top and claim the championship.
“My win was all about keeping the ball on the fairways. Nyeri Golf Club’s course plays similarly to my home club, Nandi Bears, and that familiarity worked to my advantage,” he explained.
“I was on the fairways 90 percent of the time, which was key to my performance.”
Barno’s victory builds on his success from last October when he won his first-ever KAGC title at the NCBA Nandi Bears Open Shield, finishing with a total score of 217 after rounds of 69 (-3), 75 (+3), and 73 (+1).
With two KAGC titles now under his belt, Barno is gaining momentum in the amateur circuit and hopes to secure a place in Kenya’s national team.
“This win motivates me to keep improving. I am ready for bigger challenges, and my focus now is on making it to the national team,” he affirmed.
The battle for the Mt. Kenya Championship crown was fiercely contested, with Rwandan golfer Jean D’Amour Hitayezu of Kigali Golf Resort & Villas finishing just one stroke behind at 220 (+4).
Hitayezu impressed with a strong second round of 70, but lost momentum in the final stretch, carding 76 on the last day.
Josphat Rono of Golf Park Golf Club secured third place with a total of 222 (+6) after rounds of 76, 72, and 74.
A three-way tie for fourth place saw Daniel Kiragu (Muthaiga Golf Club), Samuel King’ori (Sigona Golf Club), and Geofrey Kariuki (Kisii Golf Club) all finish at 223 (+7).
Kiragu’s rounds were 79, 71, and 73, while King’ori carded 75, 73, and 75, and Kariuki posted consistent scores of 74, 74, and 75.
The NCBA Mt. Kenya Championship 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
The next KAGC Series event will be staged at Great Rift Valley Lodge from February 14-16, 2025