By KPC Sports Reporter
A field of 103 golfers converged at Kericho Golf Club for the latest leg of the Road to Somabay Golf Series, with Picoty Koskei emerging as the overall winner after carding an impressive 44 Stableford points to secure a place in the grand finale.
The tournament, sponsored by CIB Bank and MichezoNet, attracted players from across the region and underscored the growing popularity of amateur golf in Kenya as competitors battled for qualification spots in the prestigious national series.
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Koskei delivered a composed and consistent performance throughout the day, finishing two points ahead of Edmond Samoei, who returned 42 Stableford points to claim the Overall Runner-Up position.
While neither golfer recorded the lowest gross score of the tournament, both demonstrated the consistency and strategic course management required to excel under the Stableford scoring format.
Samoei’s performance stood out for his resilience after overcoming several difficult holes to remain in contention.
Despite setbacks during his round, he continued to accumulate valuable points and secured qualification for the next stage of the competition.
Division One produced some of the strongest golf of the day, with Adrian Monari claiming top honours on 36 points. Monari edged Parminder Hunjan by a single point after posting a gross score of 87 that included seven pars and seven bogeys.
“His ability to limit mistakes and improve on the inward nine proved decisive,” tournament officials noted.
Monari’s steady approach reflected the demanding nature of the Kericho course, where disciplined shot-making and consistency proved more effective than aggressive scoring.
In Division Two, Patrick Cheruiyot emerged victorious with 39 points, narrowly ahead of Elijah Rono, who finished on 38 points.
The competition also showcased exceptional stroke-play golf, with Ignatius Ngetich recording the best gross score of the tournament. Ngetich returned an outstanding 79 to claim the Gross Winner title and register the finest individual stroke-play performance of the day.
The event highlighted the contrast between gross scoring excellence and Stableford success. While Ngetich dominated through superior ball-striking and scoring, Koskei’s overall victory illustrated the importance of consistency, course management and effective use of handicap strokes.
The challenging Kericho Golf Club layout tested players throughout the day, with few competitors producing birdie-laden rounds. Success instead came through avoiding costly mistakes and maintaining momentum over 18 holes.
At the close of the tournament, Koskei, Samoei, Monari and Cheruiyot secured qualification to the Road to Somabay Grand Finale, where they will join top performers from qualifiers held across the country.
The finalists will compete for the ultimate prize, including the opportunity to represent Kenya at Somabay, the internationally acclaimed golf destination located on Egypt’s Red Sea coast.
Somabay Series is a nationwide amateur golf circuit designed to provide golfers with a competitive pathway while contributing to the growth and development of the sport across Kenya.
