Ivorian Kuome wins treble, Yegoala, Barnie shine
Ivorian female golf icon, Vivian Kuome, became the first to win the MTN Asantehene Gold Cup golf tournament for three consecutive times while Obuasi-based Prince Q. Amponsah, former Black Stars goal machine, Tony Yeboah, and Kojo Barnie of Achimota all etched their names on the competition’s history tablets at the Royal Gold Course last Sunday.
The five-day competition, sponsored by MTN and other auxiliary partners also brought to the fore the rich traditional culture of the Ashanti Kingdom where the normal polo-shirts over khaki worn by golfers after the game, gave way to traditional kentey and adinkra cloths.
Kuome, was in a terrific form from tee off to the greens pushing aside first and second runners up F. Okyei-Gyeabour and Lady Captain of the host club, Mary Kronborg, while some international competitors especially those from France, Swaziland, South Africa, Sierra Leone and Togo could hardly make any impact.
But it was a sad day for the men’s last year scratch champion, Kwabena Poku, who slumped to the fourth position as Amponsah shock everyone to win the topmost prize with just a stroke.
He won with 150 gross in the amateur 36-hole event while F. K. Dorkey beat Daniel Ntim on countback after both had scored 151 gross over the two-day.
Former Black striker, Tony Yeboah, although he won in the less attractive handicap category, received the loudest applauds from golfers including Asantehene in whose honour the competition was played to mark his 15anniversary since ascending to the golden stool and to celebrate his 64th birthday which falls today (Tuesday).
Yeboah was in a class of his own as he appeared to have mastered his new sports just as he did with football. M. I. Opoong won the ladies handicap with 151 gross score while Vivian Dick (152) and R. Tahir, 154, were the first and second runners up.
In the professional category, Kojo Barnie benefited from the absence of the country’s number one, Emos Korblah, to beat S. K. Klah while favoured Vincent Torgah slumped to the third spot.
Barnie received his highest cash in recent time of GH 8,000 while Klah took home Gh 4,000.
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, called for a focus in upgrading the club’s youth development programme to whip up interest at that level.
He said since the youth were the future of the country’s bunch of golf talents, there was the need to target those under the age of 10 for a good take off.