Otumfuo Osei Tutu II

Vodafone 62nd Asantehene Open Golf Champ, Otumfuo to tee off today

Daily Graphic Sports News May - 09 - 2019 , 09:58

The Asantehene, His Royal Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, is expected to perform the official tee off tomorrow for the five-day Vodafone 62nd Asantehene Open Golf Championship at the Royal Golf Club in Kumasi.

The competition will see the best in professional and amateur golf and forms part of the activities marking the 20th anniversary of the coronation of the Asantehene.

A record number of 315 golfers, including 50 local and nine foreign professionals, will compete in the tournament as the rivalry between two of Ghana's top professionals is re-enacted.

The defending champion, Vincent Torgah, currently the leading professional golfer in West Africa, is expected to face a strong challenge from his long-term rival, Emos Koblah of the Achimota Golf Club.

PGA Championship winner, Kojo Barnni, and other top-ranked professionals such as Victor Brave-Mensah and Godwin Sai all part of a star-studded lineup for the prestigious tournament which climaxes on Sunday.

The tournament started yesterday with an 18-hole event for the ProAm (Professional-Amateur) category reserved for high handicap golfers (19-28 for men and 29-36 for ladies) paired with professional golfers.

Today’s competition is a 72-hole event for the Men’s Championship (up to handicap six) and an 18-hole event for Seniors (above 60 years).

Tomorrow, the Support category (handicap 13-18) for men 21-28 for ladies) will play over 18 holes. Saturday and Sunday will be reserved for 36-hole events, including Ladies Championships category (up to handicap 12), Men’s Handicap (handicap seven to 12) and Ladies Handicap (handicap 13 to 20).

The head of the organising team, Prof. Bernard Baiden told the Daily Graphic that the tournament had been restructured to conform to the standards of an open golf championship prescribed by the Ghana Golfers Association and the World Amateur Golf Championship.