*The Tema Country Golf Club have beaten their Ikeja counterparts in the first ever friendly golf competition between the two clubs in the West African giant nations of Ghana and Nigeria. ***

*Played over the weekend, Tema took advantage of their home territory to outplay and outscore their guests, 30-18 overall to win the giant trophy at stake.***

Tema won the first day of competition 11.5 to the 8.5 of Ikeja on Saturday and after completing the rout with a 18.5 to 12.5 result on Sunday, the club’s Captain Leonard Kwaku Okyere could not help but admit that playing at home meant they had no choice than to win.

“You know it is a phenomenon in Africa that once you host you have to win and you saw how we failed with the football. But with golf, its an individual game, involving a lot of skill and once you are on your ground, you have the advantage.

“Basically we had to win today. But trust me, even when we go there, we will pursue them and win” Mr. Okyere exclusively told SportsInGhana.com .

But Shola Giwa, Captain of Ikeja Golf Club, shares a different view, stating out that his side didn’t want to spoil the atmosphere of the good hosts that Tema have been over the weekend of playing golf in a competitive friendly spirit.

“We acknowledge the good hospitality of Tema and we promise to do better when they come to Ikeja,” Mr. Giwa admitted in his closing speech.

He added: “We lost gallantly and I tell you we will win the trophy in Ikeja . We didn’t want to disgrace the Ghanaians and take their trophies away. But when they come to our home territory, we will have no mercy.”

According to Ebenezer Adablanu, Manager of the Tema Country Golf Club, the idea of the competition is establish friendly relations between the two golf clubs in the two West African countries.

Discussions are already underway for Tema to reciprocate the visit of Ikeja by going there as early as the very first quarter of next year. All after the proclaimed success of this maiden event and last Sunday’s cake-cutting to signify the new union between the two golf clubs.

Mr. Adablanu further hailed the success of staging the two day competition.

“We are satisfied because its been a successful tournament, conveying the Nigerian team from the airport, hotel, transports and hosting in general has been wonderful,” the Tema Country Golf Club Manager told SportsInGhana.com. *