Home golfer Amos Butit defeated Nandi Bears player Zadock Tanui on count back to win the inaugural Pro-Am Linda Maji Mtaani golf tournament, the Eldoret water and Sanitation (ELDOWAS) sponsored tournament played on Saturday on nine hole Eldoret golf club.
With both carding 43 stable ford points, Butit managed to sneak in the lead with his second nine score of 23 points to beat junior player who carded 21 in the second nine for the amateur section ahead of tomorrow’s professionals final round title.
Playing handicap 18, the winner said that he felt proud and honoured in a tournament that broke the course record with 160 golfers who teed off at 7:00am, starting with the Kenyans top professional golfers led by George Felix, Dismas Indiza, John Wangai among others.
“There was a lot of pressure with the pros on the course with too much hold up due to the big number of players but I would thank my team mates like Anikah Patel, Linda Tororei and my marker Diana Mensa,” said Butit.
He added that when there is a hold-up it disrupts the playing pattern and delays the game flow.
“I like playing early in the morning but due to the professional around we were pushed to play at 10 in the draw. But my secret was to play the smaller club since the course was dry and the balls run very fast unlike during wet season,” he added.
Former Lady captain Faith Mburu who managed 41 points after sinking 22 and 19 points in each nine was third as Lina Shah on 40 points was 4th followed by Nandi Bear’s Sosten Biwott (40) after identical 20 points in the nines with HS Plahe and Stanley Cherono completing the top six winners on 40 points apiece.
Former Eldoret Lady captain Jane Koech won the Staff prize with her 38 points and long hitting Lukas Cheserek won the gross title on 79 gross after beating Livingston Talel on count back.
Florence Murgor won the senior title on 39 points as Gracemary Karira and Shadrack Ngetich won the longest drive ladies and men respectively with John Tanui managing nearest to the pin.
The nines were won by Brenda Kimeli and Nicholas Wambugu on 22 points each.