Barely a month after winning his home tournament of Accra open and it’s GH¢10,000 prize, good old Emos Korblah was the hero yet again at the prestigious Ghana Open at the Royal Golf Club in Kumasi over the weekend.
Korblah returned 285 points over four days to beat Nigerian Umoh Edet who shot 286 points with 3rd place going to Anthony Agbenyor, also of the Achimota Golf Club.
Emos Korblah was full of royalty as he collected the winning cheque of GH¢7,000 from the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II who was the special guest of honour. But Mr. Korblah insists he wants more victories.
He told ALL SPORTS: “I don’t think anybody will get tired of winning, it’s my job and I wish to continue winning for as long as possible. I’m waiting for the next tournament because I want to win again and by His grace next year I will be here again.”
Prince Amponsah of Obuasi ensured that it was host and win at least for the Ashanti Region with his first ever major win by carrying home the giant trophy as champ of the Men’s scratch event. “I was thinking I could win this tournament because I want to become a professional next year and I need to win a major. I came here 3 days before the tournament and started training. I really meant it and I’m so excited to win,” Amponsah stated in his hilarity.
Felicity Oteng-Gyeabour, also of the Royal Golf Club took home the female scratch top prize beating Jessica Tei of Achimota and Grace Lady Tico Afriyie into 2nd and 3rd positions respectively. Mrs. Oteng-Gyeabour was equally ecstatic with the win. “I’m overjoyed because to be the Ghana Open winner is not easy at all so I’m completely overjoyed,” she simply explained.
Satisfaction at the success of the one week tournament that also rewarded handicap players in both male and female divisions with former soccer star Tony Yeboah winning the men handicap, were the Ghana Golfers Association (GGA) themselves.
GGA President Dr. Felix Frempong first made a donation to the Asantehene for his leadership to the golfing federation before hailing the success of the 79th Ghana Open.
“It’s been more than successful, the patronage was high and Otumfuo’s involvement was an icing on the cake. The professionals event had the highest ever patronage, the amateurs had the highest patronage from the region and we are grateful to the sponsors especially Goldfields for their immense support. We can only improve,” Dr. Frempong told ALL SPORTS amid revealing that next year’s tournament goes to the celebrity Golf Club in Sakumono, near Tema.
For Alfred Baku, Vice President, Operations of the Goldfields Ghana Limited sponsors, he couldn’t have derived more satisfaction from the tournament than finishing on the podium among the winners and the huge patronage as well.
Mr. Baku told ALL SPORTS: “The participation was great. Golfers from other parts of Africa and the association of them has brought a lot of competition and raised the standard. I feel great. It’s been long time since I won a trophy and I was lucky to finish 2nd here. I feel great.”
