Thomas Abol wins final CIC series at Nyanza Club
What you need to know:
- Playing off handicap 25, Abol, a former Nation Media Group manager in Kisumu, overcame an early setback to post an impressive 23 points in the front nine, which included four pars.
- Abol picked up a double bogey at the first hole par five.
- John Muhanji and Wycliff Nyambogo won the first and second nine with 20 points each as Ojwang Lusi , a long hitter who over drove most of the par fours, hit a massive 365 yards at the par four-18th to claim the longest drive.
Home player Thomas Abol made full use of his knowledge of the par 70 Nyanza Golf Club course in Kisumu to clinch the final leg of the 2016 CIC Group Insurance Golf Series at the weekend.
Playing off handicap 25, Abol, a former Nation Media Group manager in Kisumu, overcame an early setback to post an impressive 23 points in the front nine, which included four pars.
Despite a poor finish at the back nine where he carded 16 points, his total of 39 points was still good enough to give him the overall title in the event which attracted a field of 78 players.
“I really didn’t think I stood a chance of winning, but since I knew the condition of the course I decided to try my best. I am surprised that my score was the winning, one” said Abol, who has not won any event for a while.
Abol picked up a double bogey at the first hole par five.
“I had a good tee shot, but the approach shot and the hard green, could not stop the ball. I did not give up since it was the first hole,” said Abol, who later scratched the 11th at the back nine.
He beat Albert Ojonyo on countback. Ojonyo to take home the runner up prize. Long-hitting Lawrence Obat of CIC Group Nyanza region also fired 39 points made up of 18 and 21 but this could only give him the staff prize.
Also posting 35 points to lead the guests was former Royal Nairobi and Kenya Golf Union chairman David Mogere while in the ladies section, Liz Akinyi carded 32 points to take home the prize.
John Muhanji and Wycliff Nyambogo won the first and second nine with 20 points each as Ojwang Lusi , a long hitter who over drove most of the par fours, hit a massive 365 yards at the par four-18th to claim the longest drive. Veteran Pat Odima won the ladies prize while John Muhanji bagged the nearest to pin prize.
Speaking during the prize giving ceremony, CIC Group managing director life insurance Ezekiel Owuor thanked residents of the region for supporting the firm.
