• "I played my regular game and it was just my day and as they say, every dog has its day and this was mine,” said Kipyego.
• Boaz Sugut carded 28 points to win Division Two ahead of Simon Miningwo (27 points) as Erick Choge lost to Miningwo on countback.
Image: EMMANUEL SABUNI
A single two-ball in hole 18 handed Evans Kipyegon the National Bank of Kenya golf title at the Nandi Bears Golf Club over the weekend.
Playing off handicap 22, Kipyego took home advantage to card 43 Stableford points to see off handicap 8 Eliud Kemboi (39 points).
The winner started off badly, hitting the rough in the opening hole par 5 with a double bogey, bogeyed in the second but recovered with pars in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th and dropped a shot in the 6th, and 8th with a par in the 7th and 9th.
In the second nine, he dropped 2 in the 10th, par on the 11th, dropped another in the 12th, dropped 2 in the 13th, bogeyed in the 14th, double bogey in the 15th and 16th and a par in the 17th but ended with a birdie to seal the title.
He said that he showed up well dressed for the tournament, in a colourful trouser.
“I just say that I played with good guys who have been here for a very long time on the course. I played my regular game and it was just my day and as they say, every dog has its day and this was mine,” he said.
Kipyego said he did not even prepare much for the tournament, opting to stick to his regular game.
“The success came after learning from my experience from previous matches and improving on it. It is enjoyable to play in these local tournaments,” he added.
Handicap 5 Sosten Biwott won the Division One title with 38 points, beating Collins Kebenei on countback while John Agui was third with 37 points.
Boaz Sugut carded 28 points to win Division Two ahead of Simon Miningwo (27 points) as Erick Choge lost to Miningwo on countback.
Winnie Cheruiyot was the Division Three winner with 38 points followed by Samson Sang (28) and Joyce Mutai 17 points.
Natalie Metto carded 36 Stableford points to emerge the ladies winner while Wilson Chepkwony and Daniel Githinji were first and second nine winners on 22 and 20 points respectively.
Fredrick Letting was the Staff winner with 40 points while the guest title went to Nyanza’a Nicholas Okello with 30 points.
Luke Siahi and Goretti Mutai were the longest drive men and ladies winners on hole 17 respectively while Nelson Koech was the nearest to the pin winner on hole 11. Elisha Oyuga won the best effort winner with 12 points.
Home amateur Nelson Koech bagged the Gross winner’s prize after firing level par 72.