Ghana’s Korblah wins Lakowe’s anniversary/independence tourney

Aworanti, Folashodun Also Impress
With the two over par he carded, Achimota Golf Club of Ghana ace, and former Professional Golfers’ Association of Nigeria (PGAN) Order of Merit Leader, Emos Korblah, emerged winner (on sudden death) of the 5th Anniversary Pro-Am of Lakowe Lakes Golf Club, Lagos.
 
In the two-day event, which is also in celebration of the country’s independence, another former Order of Merit Leader, and IBB Golf and Country Club-based pro, Andrew Oche Odoh, holed out in second place with +2.
 
He tied in that category with his older brother, Martins Odoh (+2) of Minna Cantoment Golf Club, and current Order of Merit Leader, Sunday J. Odegha, also of the Minna Cantoment Golf Club. In last year’s edition, Odegha celebrated the country’s 56th independence anniversary in style as he shot a tidy 69, three under par to set a new course record at the club.

On the first day of the tourney, Maji was one of the winners of ancillary prizes as he grabbed the longest drive, while Georgia Oboh, got the one for nearest to the pin.
    
With a net score of 128, the quartet of Kabiru Mohammed, Fossberg Piet, Nike Aworanti, Hee Dong Lee, carried the day in the Pro-Am.
 
The Pro-Am winners for Day Two (also with 128 net) were Francis Epe, Peter Eben-Spiff, Akinlolu Abiodun Akinola, Adebisi Shonubi Folashodun. Same day, Muazu Mohammed, got the longest drive award for the professionals, Tim Ayomike, got that of amateurs, while Dominic Andrew, went home with the nearest to the pin prize for pros, and Adams Jonah, got the one for amateurs.
Golf Director at the club, Campbell Elliot, expressed happiness at the turnout of participants, saying it was an endorsement of the tourney, as well as its acceptability by the golfing community.
 
On the tourney’s metamorphosis into a two-day affair, he said, “Our objective was to expand the tournament from a one-day event to a two-day event, which over 120 golfers are taking part. We are likely to further expand it to a four-day Pro-Am tournament in future, with the participation of some of the best players from within Nigeria, and the West and East African sub-regions.”
 
He said the tournament has also succeeded in giving “pros more opportunities for tournaments, just as the quality of play has improved far beyond when we first started.  

“One of the essence of starting the Lakowe anniversary tournament is to have young players coming through the ranks here bloom in golf. It will be our pleasure if we have some of them shooting to prominence in the circuit,” Campbell added.
 
He added that plans were afoot to develop a sports club and lakeside recreation centre to provide a wide range of activities, including squash, tennis, badminton, swimming and a playground and picnic for families who are not golf aficionados in the Lakowe Estate.