Businessman Amos Butit led his team of Jackson Kiprono, Wesley Kiprono, and Mike Rotich to victory, returning a combined score of 116 points to clinch the second leg of the KCB East Africa Golf Tour at the par-71 Eldoret Golf Club on Saturday.
They beat their closest challengers, Kipchirchir Kiprop, Nelson Orgut, Patrick Kiprop, and Geoffrey Kitiwa, who came in second after returning 106 points at the tourney that was graced by over 200 golfers from Eldoret and its environs.
The two teams have secured their spots at the tour’s grand finale, scheduled for
December 6. Speaking at the prize-giving ceremony, Amos Butit said: “We were strategic in our approach to this tournament. Having won the previous competition last year, we knew that we needed to train together to clinch victory again, and that is exactly what happened. Looking forward to the grand finale in December. Hopefully, we will fly the Eldoret Club high.”
Junior golfer Ryan Tolgos, who plays off handicap, carded 30 Stableford points in the first nine and 19 points in the second nine to emerge as the overall winner with 49 points, beating a huge field.
Seasoned handicap 19 golfer Wesley Kiprono returned 42 points to clinch the men’s winner award after recording an excellent 23 points in the first nine and 19 points in the back nine. On the other hand, handicapped 14 golfer Faith Mburu carded 40 points to be named the lady winner of the day.
Bob Kennedy Odhiambo, who plays off handicap 22, scooped the guest winner award after carding 32 points to beat golfers from Kitale, Kakamega, Nandi Bears, and other clubs that headlined the event.
In the staff category, Nicholas Okello cruised past his colleagues to claim the award after returning 39 points while handicapping 22 Allan Kirui finished second with 30 points. Kennedy Serem won the longest-driver award in the men’s category, while Gracemary Kamura bagged it in the ladies category.
On Sunday, KCB hosted a juniors’ and ladies’ golf clinic at the same venue in a bid to further enhance the sport and allow budding golfers to hone their skills. Also, a tree-planting exercise was conducted to ensure that sustainability sits at the heart of the golf series.
The tour will be back in action on April 13 when Kakamega Golf Club hosts the third leg of the KCB Golf Series, which aims to reach twenty counties in Kenya and four countries in the East African region.