Abaloo retains Peugeot challenge Cup

SUZZIE Abaloo upheld her reputation as one of Ghana?s top female golfers when she successfully defended the Peugeot Challenge Cup played at the weekend at the Achimota Golf Club.

She held off a stiff challenge from crack golfers like Mona Captan, Florence Etwi-Barimah, Adelaide Owusu-Agyepong and Elizabeth Essel Koomson to grab the top prize in the two-day event played over 18 holes.

The annual Peugeot Challenge Cup was sponsored by Prestige Motor Company Limited, local agents of Peugeot automobiles, and Lufthansa airlines.

Vetran Abaloo, the pride of Ghana Reinsurance Company Limited, returned a net score of 142 to win the gold in the women?s event and the right to represent Ghana in the internaitonal leg of the Peugeot Challenge Cup at the Euro Disneyland Golf Course in Paris.

Following in second place was Essel-Koomson who took the silver trophy with a net score of 145, while Mrs Owusu-Agyepong finished in third position with a score of 146 for the bronze trophy.

They all took away sports bags, golf balls and cosmetics by Orlane, one of the sponsors of the international tournament.

Abaloo, who placed 14th and 25 among competitors in France last year, was decorated with her prizes by Alhaji Malik Alhassan Yakubu, MP for Yendi and Mrs Korantema Adi-Daku of Prestige Motors.

The men?s competition witnessed an unlikely champion in Mr Kamil Noshie who returned a net score of 141 with 3 under par over two days. He won ahead of Albert Brock who played I under par and returned a net score of 143.

Noshie, who hardly features in tournaments, took up the challenge and came up tops in what he calls his biggest victory on a familiar course. He received a special Peugeot gold trophy, a travelling bag, golf balls and a first class return ticket to France from Lufthanza.

Noshie and Abaloo will both fly Ghana?s flag in the International Finals in Paris on September 16 where they play winners from 25 other countries where various legs of the Peugeot Challenge have been held this year.

The other notable winner on Sunday was the queen of the sport, Mona Captan. playing with a handicap of six, who won the women?s gross competition while James Amuzu Love won the men?s category. Captan also hit the only eagle, on Hole 5, in the women?s event.

Love was the most decorated golfer on Sunday after picking prizes for the longest drive, a birdie, and the nearest to pin.

Wilhelmina Aggrey, Etwi-Barimah, Mrs Owusu-Agyepong and Valentina Manteaw all received prizes for hitting a bride each.

Among the dignitaries present was the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Edward Osei Kwaku, who tasked the Ghana Golf Association and host club to endeavour to encourage youth participation in the sport.

A director of Prestige Motors, Nana Awuah Darko Ampem I, pledged his company?s commitment to sponsor the so-called lesser-known sports including golf