Ghana’s Vincent Torgah on Sunday in Abuja claimed the Nigeria
Masters title for a record third time in a row, extending his lead and Order of
Merit point in the African Tour. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the
Nigeria Masters tournament which teed off on Thursday at the IBB International
Golf and Country Club, Abuja ended on Sunday.
The consistent Torgah
emerged as the 2019 Masters champion; his fifth title on the tour this season
and his 15th since the inception of the African Tour in 2016. Torgah extended
his lead and Order of Merit point by quite some style after he bounced back
from a ridiculous 4 over par 76 on day three with a final round 4 under par 68.
The 36-year-old sank
five birdies with one drop shot on par 4 hole 13. A total of 179 gross gave him
a nine-shot victory for yet another Nigeria Masters title, the third in a row.
“It feels great. It’s like you’ve been doing something for the past three years
and getting the best out of it. “The feeling is very good. I feel more
confident in my game now than ever before. “It was indeed a great opportunity
to defend my title for the third time and looking forward to a fourth, maybe if
possible,” Torgah said.
Torgah was closely
followed by Zimbabwe’s Visitor Mapwanya who closed with a two-under-par 70
which was good enough for a second-place finish. Previous rounds of 74, 71 and
73 on day three put him at 11 par to 188 over four rounds to miss out on the
title by nine strokes. Nigeria’s Sunday Olapade finished third after shooting
five birdies and three bougies for a final round 70. The hitman bounced back
after not too impressive rounds of 74, 73 and 73 on day three.
Compatriot Paul Patrick
who was just four shot behind overnight leader Torgah could not mount the
desired challenge as he closed with a final round six over 78, that was a total
of 193 gross over four days.
Despite holding on to the second position for
three days, the Ikoyi-based professional finished fourth, 13 shots adrift of
the champion. Cameroonian Pristhy Nji shot one of the lowest scores of the
round on the final day after a 1 under par 71. The 2019 Sagamu Cup champion had
three bougies, two birdies and one brilliant eagle on par 5 hole two. The 2019
African Tour season is expected to climax with the season-ending Tour
Championship at the Arsenal Golf Course in Obinze, Owerri, Imo State later this
month.
Credits: NAN