Amateur golfer, Kingsley Afful and professional golfer, Lucky Ayisah were crowned champions at the just-ended Ghana Open held at the Royal Golf Club, Kumasi.
This year’s event marked the 89th edition of the prestigious golf championship on the Ghana Golf Association’s calendar.
After three rigorous days of golfing, Kingsley Afful returned a gross score of 227 to emerge the overall winner in the men’s amateur championship division, he was closely followed by Daniel Asamani who also returned a gross score of 234. Edward Dane Donton and Daniel Ntim were tied third with a gross score of 235.
In the amateur senior’s category, three players were tied for the top position with 15 stableford points after nine holes of play. However, after countback, Kwadwo Okyei-Gyeabour playing with course handicap of 12 was adjudged winner followed by Samuel Okyere playing with handicap 11 who came second on countback on the last six holes. Kwaku Boachie Sarpong playing with handicap of nine came third.
The professionals played 72 holes over four days and at the end of the tournament, Lucky Ayisah came tops beating the likes of Emos Korblah, Daniel Affum, Vincent Torgah, Barry Dzadey and Kojo Barnni.
Ayisah returned with a gross score of 278 to win the professional competition followed by evergreen Emos Korblah with a gross score of 279, Daniel Affum and Vincent Torgah were tied for the position third with a gross score of 284.
A total of 39 pro golfers from Ghana, Ivory Coast, Zimbabwe, Uganda, and Senegal entered the competition but 15 of them did not make the cut after day two.
In the seniors’ category for the professionals, Kwame Korsah returned a gross score of 157 after playing 36 holes to emerge the overall winner. He was followed by James Larry with a gross score of 162, and Kwaku Effah Poku finishing third with a gross score of 165.
Emelia Flynt with handicap 30 won the Support Ladies’ category with 43 Stableford points followed by Romina Alviz with handicap 30 and a score of 40 Stableford points. They were followed on the third position by Adiatu Tiamiyu who played with handicap 27 and finished with 40 Stableford points.
In the support men Group A, Ben Blay Ofosu-Barko with handicap 21 finished first with 41 points followed by Anthony Appiah playing with handicap 20 finished with 41 stableford points. Barima Osei Kwadwo II with handicap 14 finished third with 30 stableford points.
In Group B, Baffour Kwame Kusi II with handicap 23 finished first with 43 stableford points followed by Anthony Kwabena Turkson with 39 stableford points playing with handicap 22, and Nathan Annobi with 38 stableford points playing with handicap 24.
The 89th Ghana Open which was played in honour of the Asantehene, Otumfo Osei Tutu II was supported by the Ghana Eximbank, Genser Energy, Millenium Insurance, Fistbank Ghana, Zonda Tech Ghana Lid, Micasso, Caveman Watches, Telecel, PassionAir, X-Men, Emirates Airline, TEKLED, Bel-Aqua, Garmin, Villa la Aphro, Johnny Walker, Royal Senchi, and Schweppes International.
President of the Ghana Golf Association, Mr Kwaku Okyere, thanked the sponsors for coming on board and commended the golfers for participating in the competition, and congratulated the winners for putting up a spirited performance.
He mentioned that the GGA was on course to develop golf at the grassroots and would continue to liaise with the various golf clubs to improve on their junior golf programmes adding that the GGA was open to any collaboration to develop the sport and get more people involved.
He thanked The R&A for the immense support offered to the Association since taking over the mantle of leadership in 2023.