It’s Emos Korblah the landlord again at Accra Open

Good old Emos Korblah once again underlined his billing as the landlord of the Achimota Golf Club course by emerging an overwhelming winner of the 2011 Accra Open and with it the huge cash prize of GH?10,000 (ten thousand Ghana Cedis) and a voucher of GH?1,000 to shop at Mmax Mart.

Korblah shot 8 under par over 4 days to beat the Professionals competition ahead of Godwin Sai who played 3 under par and 3rd placed Theophilus K. Kodjo who shot 1 under par. Sai and Kodjo respectively took home GH?5,500 and GH?4,000 for their efforts whereas the winners of 4th to 18th positions all received various amounts ranging from GH?700 upwards in a total prize pool of about GH?35,000.

“We thank the (organizing) committee and the sponsors that for the first time we had ten thousand Ghana Cedis and we hope next year it will be bigger,” the highly elated Korblah said in a post victory speech.

For Achimota Golf Club captain Rene L. Gameli-Kwame, the first Accra Open that he supervised is one that fills him with so much contentment even as he envisages a brighter future for the sport. “When we launched the 61stAccra Open earlier this year, we said we wanted it to be the biggest and to be the launch-pad to restoring Achimota as the leading golf club in Ghana. With the attendance today, I can say that we’ve started well,” Mr. Gameli-Kwame stated in his closing remarks.

He added: “I’m very satisfied. It’s gone very well and the expectations were met because we wanted the 1 in the 61st anniversary to be a beginning of a new era of Opens in Ghana. The golfers came in their numbers, the competition was good and the sponsors especially have been extremely supportive.

“We once again showed that the Accra Open is a premium tournament to all golfers all over the country and even beyond Ghana. It’s not about Achimota alone, Achimota is the host but it’s for golfers in general.”

And to say the 2011 Accra Open was well patronized may even be an understatement with participants from wide and far including Togo, Benin and Nigeria. For the four days of the tournament, Achimota was abuzz with excitement and fierce competition for the various prize categories.

Vincent Coffie and Lady Tico Grace Afriyie were the biggest Amateur winners, Coffie returning 153 gross over 2 days to top the Men’s Scratch as Lady Tico shot 171 gross over 2 days to win the ladies’ Scratch with both taking home a trophy and return air ticket from South African Airways each. The top 7 in the Men division were rewarded with various trophy sizes and the top 5 in the ladies category as well.

E. S. Oddoye returned 147 net over 2 days to emerge champion of the Men’s handicap event, with Mrs. Sampaney-Gambrah taking the ladies’ category with a net of 145 over 2 days. Oddoye received a trophy and digital LCD TV with trophy prizes presented up to 5th place whilst the ladies had the top three rewarded with trophies and an additional PZ hamper for the winner. As well, all the winners got a Max Mart shopping vouchers donated by Doscar Travel and Tour.

The Youth and Seniors were not left out, E. Brookman, P. Tender and Mrs. Asamoah Wilson all winning trophies for emerging tops in the Youth Handicap, Youth Scratch and Seniors divisions respectively. Ernest Opoku of Tema (Men) and Aku Yabah (Ladies) received the prize for Longest Drive whilst Closest to the pin award went to P. Gyasi (Men) and M.I. Oppong (Women).