Nandi Bears golfer Nelson Koech registered a big comeback in the second round to win the Goldfields Trophy, Kenya Amateur Golf Championships (KAGC) Meeting with four over par 148 at the par 72 Kakamega Golf club.
After he finished in a disappointing seven over par 79 in the first round on Saturday, Koech recovered well in the second round on Sunday when he fired three-under-par 69 to emerge top, to register his second win in the series after he won at his home club Open Shield meeting last month.
Koech, who was prepared to end the game in a play-off against his club and training mate and round one leader Elly Barno, said he wasn't thinking of a win until the last hole.
“It was a tense moment as I was prepared for the playoff against Barno. But his miss for a par gave me a win that I did not expect, considering how badly I played in the first round,” said Koech.
He said he went into the second round targeting a top five.
“I played badly in the first round but I am happy with the win. I have been practicing on this course and playing many tournaments just to familiarise myself and last Wednesday, we played club night here and that gave me an advantage,” he said.
The western Kenya leader fired one birdie in the sixth, five pars and three bogeys for a three-over-par in the opening round, then followed with four pars in the second nine, four bogeys and a double bogey for a total of four-over-par with a cumulative score of seven-over par 79.
In the second round, he sunk four birdies, four pars and a bogey in the opening nine as he returned with a birdie in the 10th, five pars, three bogeys and a double bogey.
Round One leader Barno, also from Nandi Bears, hang on for second. The duo had accompanied their captain Simon Chepkwony, chairman Kimeli Mutai, David Sum, Sosten Biwott, Michael Kotu — the nett runner-up, and Noar Korir.
