Ghana's Vincent Torgah emerged victorious at the Lakowe Lakes Golf Classic, a Sunshine Development Tour event held in Nigeria. Torgah secured the win in a sudden-death playoff against Kamalu Bako of Nigeria. The event, which offered a $50,000 prize, was supported by several sponsors, including Oando, CIG Motors, ARM, and Providus Unity Bank. The tournament was held at the par-72 Lakowe Lakes Championship course.
The final round of the tournament was delayed by rain, but the 33 remaining players quickly returned to action. Bako produced a stunning performance, carding a six-under-par 66 to force the event into extra holes. His impressive putting erased the deficit and drew him level with Torgah for the playoff. Bako expressed satisfaction with his performance, despite falling short in sudden-death.
Torgah responded to the pressure with a final-round 70, completing rounds of 70, 71, and 70 to finish at three-under-par. He sealed victory in sudden-death to claim the landmark Sunshine Development Tour title and a brand-new electric car courtesy of CIG Motors. The win marked a significant milestone as the first Sunshine Development Tour event staged in West Africa.
The leaderboard reflected the depth of talent assembled from across the continent, with first-day leader Celestine Nsanzuwera of Rwanda recovering strongly to share third place with Ezekiel Afisco. Both Nsanzuwera and Afisco finished the week at two-under par. The event provided a compelling showcase for African professional golf and a promising start for the SDT's expansion into West Africa.
SDT Chief Executive Officer, David Ndungu, expressed satisfaction with the quality of players on display. He noted that West African professional golf is full of potential talents and that the incursion of the SDT team will work to expand and grow opportunities for the game. The event gave professionals in the region greater access to high-level competition and Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points.
Lakowe Lakes Golf Manager, Femi Olagbenro, emphasized the club's commitment to exploring opportunities to grow the game and building corporate partnerships through sponsorship and other initiatives to sustain professional golf. The event's success demonstrated the potential for growth and development in West African golf.
The Lakowe Lakes Golf Classic marked a significant milestone in the development of professional golf in West Africa. The event's success will likely pave the way for future Sunshine Development Tour events in the region. Key players, including Torgah, Bako, and Nsanzuwera, showcased their skills and demonstrated the depth of talent in African golf.
Key points
- Ghana's Vincent Torgah wins Lakowe Lakes Golf Classic in a sudden-death playoff against Nigeria's Kamalu Bako
- The event marked a significant milestone as the first Sunshine Development Tour event staged in West Africa
- The tournament provided a compelling showcase for African professional golf and a promising start for the SDT's expansion into West Africa
