He shot two blanks in both nines but that did not stop James Komen to win the inaugural Stabex International Golf tournament to beat former lady captain Catherine Gatua on count back at Eldoret golf club today.
The handicap 15 golfer shot 45 stable ford points, same as Gatua, with former sinking 24 stable Ford points against Gatua’ s 23 in the outward nine.
Komen started well with a par on hole one par five, adding four other pars on holes three, five, eight and nine but he blanked on hole six par four. Following his determination, he recovered well with a birdie on par 3 hole seven, missing a hole in one with three inches to end inward nine with 21 points.
It was a good harvest for the outward nine when he started with a birdie on par four hole ten, sunk back to back pars before blanking again on hole 13 par five, recovered with a par on 14th adding a birdie on 15th before sinking three pars to finish with 24 points, which was enough to send Gatua to second position.
Komen said he has been performing poorly in the last three months but he was put to challenge by club captain Moses Tanui, chairman Andrew Chelogoi and Aaron Kitur.
“I have been playing badly in the last three months but when I lost to the three golfers, I said that I have to do well in the next tournament where my prayers were answered. The challenge was good and has bore fruits,” said Komen who moved his handicap to 13.
Gatua, who was leading the whole day before Komen completing his long shots at 5:30pm, finished second.
The former lady captain played six bogeys and three pars in the opening nine for 23 points before returning with three bogeys, three pars, a birdie and a double bogey in the last nine for 22 points.
“It has been a while since I played 45 points points. The last was in 2013.i never expected to get such since my iron has not been working. I used the driver, rescue and sandwich and putter while all par threes I used nine wood,” said Gatua.
Benjamin Chemwalo was in third place (41), Haajinder Plahe fourth (40) and immediate Kakamega captain Hieronim Ikhokoro completing the top five with 40 points losing to Plahe on count back.
Former club chairlady Hellen Yego and Nandi Bears Captain Ezekiel Mutai were the winners of longest drive lady and men respectively as Nandi Bears assistant captain Moses Muge went home with nearest to the pin prize.
David Kimutai and M. Kitavi were the winners of first and second nine prizes with 22 and 20 points, senior prize was won by M. Mwangi before George Njoroge took home the Gross winners prize with eight over 79.