Guardian

NIGERIA’S dream of winning the Cameroon International Open Golf Championship for a record third time, came crashing on the final day, when the duo of Gift Willy and Oche Andrew Odoh faltered in the final round.

It was the second time in as many weeks that Willy was missing the chance of walking away with the lion share of the winning purse of a major tourney in the continent.

Only penultimate week, an opening day gaffe on the 18th hole denied him the a taste of victory in far away Gabon, where he, his compatriot, Oche Andrew Odoh and some African nationals bided for honours at the 18th Moanda Open Golf Championship in the central African nation.

Willy’s error in the Gabon event was good for defending champion, Ghana’s Vincent Torgah, who after overtaking the Nigerian, steadied his game and obtained victory with a robust five-stroke lead, pocketing the top prize of $10, 000 at stake. He carded a total of 282, six under par to push Willy to the second spot.

At the Cameroon tourney, which was played on two golf courses last week, the two Nigerians were again in contention for the trophy and prize money going into the closing round at the Likomba Golf Course in Douala, after their first three rounds results placed them in the top three positions as Willy posted +2 (having played 73, 71, 74) and Odoh stood at +3 (having shot (75, 73, 71).

The Nigerian flag bearers, however, attributed the turn out of events to the stress they had to contain with going into the tourney as they were forced to play 36 holes in one day, having missed the first day’s play due to flight cancellation by Cameroon Airlines Corporation (CAMAIRCO). The cancellation was just hours before their flight was scheduled to leave Libreville, Gabon, where they participated in the 18th Moanda Open.

“I think we collapsed under the weight of the stress we had undergone prior to the event…either of us could have won the event,” Odoh, who finished third stated.

“It was very harrowing experience, we were just lucky that the organisers were ready to accommodate us in spite of the flight connection issue we had. But then, you can’t have it all,” Willy added.

Frenchman Frederick Coupiliab, won the €30000 tourney on his debut while defending champion, Emos Korblah settled for second position.