Odoh remains Nigeria’s undisputed master

His stock continues to rise. Even when the odds seem stacked against him, Nigeria’s number one golfer, Andrew Odoh, always finds a way to wriggle out of a tight corner and mount the podium.

That he did on Monday when he came from the rear to win the inaugural Nigeria Masters.

The event, which teed off at the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja, on November 17, had a field of 57 players in the beginning, jostling for the top prize over 72 holes in a stroke play format.

Odoh had the best round of the day shooting 1 under par 71 and catapulted up the leader board from third position at the end of the fourth and final round.

Ghana’s Vincent Torgah and his Nigeria’s Kabiru Haruna had earlier tied on the first position after three rounds with a total of 220 scores. Odoh and Gboyega Oyebanji were tied on third position with a total score of 221 at the end of the third round.

However, the Nigerian, who is currently one of the star attractions at the Sunshine Tour, ensured he had the last laugh by posting 76, 71, 74 and 71 for a total score of 292.

This is the third event won by the Nigerian player since the launch of the West Africa Golf Tour in Nigeria.

Ghana’s Torgah with 81, 72, 67 and 74 with a total score of 294 finished in the second position. Nigeria’s Haruna, Oyebanji and Mike Ubi with a total score of 297 were tied on third position.

Aside Nigeria, players from Ghana, Senegal and Cameroun also took part in the competition.

In October, the Professional Golfers Association of Nigeria (PGA) confirmed his status as the country’s best-ranked golfer.

According to the PGA ranking posted on its portal, Odoh is ahead of Ghanaian Vincent Torgah of Tema Golf Club.

Tournament Director, Uche Ezeh, explained that Oche has had two strong finishes in early events that still kept him at the number one spot.

“I think it has been a strong year for Odoh on the Nigerian Tour; we might not have had many events so far because of the economic condition.

“But Odoh’s game has been near perfect; he won all the events he featured in except the last one,” Ezeh said.

However, there are golfers itching to displace Odoh from the top spot, especially as he will not defend his number one spot in Nigeria at the PGA’s next event at Air Assault Golf Club.

Rather, Odoh will be at the Lion of Africa Cape Town Open, from which he hopes to improve his world ranking.