Mutei recovers from blanks to win Captain’s prize in Eldoret

Tom Mutei recovered from two blanks to win the overall title Captain’s Prize (Geoffrey Kitiwa) at Eldoret Golf Club course over the weekend.

Teeing off handicap 13 golfer, Mutei carded an impressive round of 38 stable ford points for the title to mark the end of two year reign of captain Kitiwa after leading John Kibosia on count back.

As Mutei and Kibosia tied at the top, they edged out Ajay Shah with a point on 37 as Susan Bett (36) and Shanti Shah were top five finishers in a tournament that attracted 110 golfers on a crowded nine hole course.

Mutei, who started the day with a blank in hole one par 5 said the course was good enough and well-kept for good results for any player.

“The course was good and the greens were good except the positioning of the pin that proved to be so tricky being the captain’s prize,” said Mutei.

He said that starting with a blank was bad for him but managed to emerge the champion.

“I started with a blank but I recovered later in the second 9 I improved even my tee shots were good and the drive was good, the greens were holding the ball,” he said.

He added that in the past week he has been practicing in different clubs in Nairobi like railways, VetLab and gained confidence on the greens.

At the inward 9, he started with a blank, before he bogey in the second, double bogeyed in the third and 4^th, dropped one bogey in the 5^th, recovered with a par in the 6^th, blanked again in the 7^th bogeyed in the 8^th but he signed off positively with a birdie in the 9^th for a total of 23 points.

In the outward 9, he with a bogey in the 10^th back to nack pars in the 11^th, 12^th and 13^th, birdied in the 14^th dropped one 15^th and ended with pars in the 16^th, 17^th and 18^th for a total of 15 points.

Out-going captain Kitiwa said being the being during coronavirus pandemic it was a challenge for him since there were no sponsores.

“It was the most trying moment for me as a cpatin though I managed to serve two terms in that office. We could not get sponsores but today marked a milestone on this club,” said Kitiwa.

In other prizes, Mercy Karoney and Hellen Yego were first nine and second nine winners on 21 and 22 points respectively with guest winner prize going to Kakamega’s Newton Ogalo with 36 points.

With all par three winning nearest to pin, former captain Jack Tuwei won in hole 2, Allan Kiptoo on 5, Ajay Shah in 7^th Mutei in 11^th and Wilson Sugut on 16^th.

Former captain Sandeep Grewal and Esther Kagura from Nakuru were men and women longest drive winners respectively.