Home player Charles Ng’ang’a proved his doubters wrong to win his maiden overall winner title during the second leg of this year’s Barclays Bank Golf Circuit held at the nine-hole Eldoret Golf Club on Saturday.

“I can describe this as a very special day in my life because it is the first I have won the overall prize in my golf career. It is like a dream come true, but I would like attribute the win to my wife who woke me early in the morning to ensure that I honour my game and my playing partners who kept me on my toes from the first tee,” said Ng’ang’a.

The handicap 18 player posted a brilliant 43 stableford points to lead a team of six qualifiers from Eldoret to the circuit’s grand finale slated for Karen Club in February.

He started brightly with two birdies on the par five first hole and par three hole two to end the first nine on 19 stableford points.

In the second nine, Ng’ang’a sunk a birdie on the par five 13^th hole and had four level pars for a back nine score of 24.

Handicap 8 Nilesh Aggarwal settled for the first runner-up position on 41 stableford points, while G. S Matharu playing off handicap 15 was the second runner-up on 40 points and handicap 13 Kamal Shah had to beat Jeremy Kayago on countback to settles for the fourth spot on 38 points.

Chepchumba Chumo playing off handicap 17 won the ladies prize on an impressive 42 stableford points and she was followed by handicap 17 Linah Shah on 35 points. Navraj Sagoo playing off 18 won the junior prize on 38 points, while the straightest drive category was turned into a family affair after father and daughter Nilesh and Deeya scooped the prizes on offer.

Nilesh went ahead to win the nearest to the pin prize and Barclays Bank’s director of compliance in East and West Africa, Laban Omangi playing off handicap 21 won the staff winner’s prize on 29 points.

 “I want to thank Eldoret Club for giving Barclays another chance to sponsor golf at the club. We started off in Limuru two weeks ago and this is the second tournament. I’m a member of Kitale Golf Club, but I love playing here a lot. The course was very different from the way it was last year, that’s why I found it very difficult today, but I hope ever body enjoyed themselves,” said Omangi.

The Eldoret round saw six players from the home club qualify for the grand finale and three members of Nandi Bears also booked their tickets.

The overall winner during the grand finale will land a fully paid golfing tour on the expansive golf courses in South Africa, while the top 20 at the finale will get slots to play at next year’s Barclays Kenya Open Golf Pro Am.

“The pro-am is a dream for any amateur golfer where they get an opportunity to play with mainly top European professionals that grace the Barclays Kenya Open. Courtesy of Barclays hospitality, they will also get season tickets and VIP guest passes to the Barclays Hospitality tent at the Barclays Kenya Open,” Omanga said.

From Eldoret, the circuit moves to Nakuru on August 24 where members of Njoro and Great Rift Valley will be brought together.

Qualifiers from Eldoret: Charles Ng’ang’a, Chepchumba Chumo, Nilesh Aggarwal, G. S. Matharu, Kamal Shah and Jeremiah Kayago with Michael Rotich as a reserve.

Qualifiers from Nandi Bears: E Letting, J. Tuwei and M. Muge with R. Kurgat as the reserve.