Georgia Oboh on verge of qualifying for British Open
Georgia Oboh
Nigeria’s teenager, Georgia Oboh is close to becoming the first Nigerian female golfer to compete at the prestigious Women’s British Open. This will become a reality if she makes the cut on Monday when over 108 players vie to qualify for the main event of the British Open, which tees off on August 1 to 4.
The Women’s British Open is one of the biggest golf events on the sporting calendar and the 43rd edition of the prestigious championship holds in Woburn Golf Club.
Already, Oboh, who began her apprenticeship with the PGA of Nigeria under the tutelage of Mathew Lawrence of Ikoyi Club, will play in the final stage of the Women’s British Open Qualifying Tournament at Ashridge Golf Club in London, having played a score of 75 (3over par) at the Pre-Qualifying tournament held at Sandy Lodge Golf Club on July 15.
With this, the former World Teen Champion has become the first Nigerian to get to the final qualifying tournament of the British Open.
Earlier in the week, Oboh was spotted practicing at her home club, Ikoyi Club 1938 ahead of her challenge next week and was having fun with young children at the Ikoyi Kids Clinic.
The venue of the British Open, Woburn Golf Club, has a rich affiliation with the event and professional golf tournaments having first hosted the Women’s British Open in 1984 and 10 times since then, most recently in 2016 when Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn prevailed by three strokes on the critically acclaimed Marquess’ course.
As one of only two women majors played outside the U.S., the Women’s British Open is known to be the most international with 29 different nations represented in the 2018 line-up and 19 of the top 20 on the Rolex World Rankings headlining the field.
Reigning champion, Georgia Hall of England will be aiming to defend her title against the world’s best players, including China’s first World No.1 Shanshan Feng; the youngest ever world No. 1, Lydia Ko; two-time major winner, So Yeon Ryu; American stars, Lexi Thompson, Michelle Wie and Jessica Korda, as well as past champions, Jutanugarn, IK Kim, Inbee Park, Yani Tseng and Mo Martin and U.K. favourites, Charley Hull and Catriona Matthew.
