. Odoh, Olapade make top 16
South Africa’s Peter Karmis yesterday ensured that this year’s 3e Actuaries Golf Open title did not leave Africa after the Sunshine Tour star beats Zimbabwe’s Ben Follet-Smith in the play-off.
Both players tied at 207 shots from 54 holes with 9 under par. But follet-Smith dropped two shots to concede victory to Karmis who was later celebrated as the new champion of the prestigious tournament.
Amidst 100 professional golfers drawn from 34 countries that competed in the 54 holes, Nigeria’s Oche Odoh and Sunday Olapade gave Nigeria something to cheer after both players finished among the top 16 in the men’s event.
To finish as joint 12th with Austria’s Hamza Amin with 216 shots from 54 holes, while Olapade finished at joints 16th with +3 with 219 shots from 54 holes.
With Karmis’ win, African golfers have won the men’s title four times with Odoh claiming the title twice while Britian’s Craig Hinton won the 2016 edition. Nigeria’s Gift Willy won the 2014 edition.
Also a new winner also emerged in the ladies event after Sweden’s Elin Arvidsson topped the ladderboard to be crowned the new champion of the five-year old tournament.
Karmis and Arvidsson were debutants in the tournament but they triumphed over other golfers that graced the three-day championships held at the Presidential Golf Course in Mongomo, Equatorial Guinea.
An elated Arvidssson told NationSport that she was excited winning the title in her first appearance while hoping to return in 2018 to defend her title.
Also, Karmis, who described the golf course as one of the best in the world, while hoping to return as well in 2018.
In the amateur event, Nigeria’s teenage sensation, Georgia Oboh finished in fourth place with Britain’s Lewis Hinton winning the category.
The tournament host, Olawale Opayinka lauded the players for gracing the tournament while promising to grow the status of the tournament in 2018.
Opayinka, whose firm 3e Actuaries organized and managed the tournament in the last five years commended the efforts of the government of Equatorial Guinea under the visionary leadership of PresidentObiang Nguema Mbasogo for keeping faith with the tournament.