Odoh Relishes His Nigerian Masters Win in Abuja

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
Oche Odoh produced a clutch of pars en route to a bogey-less round of 71 to win the Nigeria Masters on the West Africa Golf Tour by two shots at IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja at the weekend.

He made 17 pars and a solitary birdie on Hole 14 for a total of +4 over par 292 to stalk Vincent Torgah, who finished two strokes outside the lead.

On the whole, though there were few sparkling moments in the contest, it was special for Odoh as he put a gloss on an outstanding year, coasting to his fifth official victory on the schedule this year.

Torgah, the 54-hole joint leader, who played in the last three-ball with Daniel Pam and Kabiru M. Haruna, handed Odoh the momentum after he bogeyed the par 5 16th.

The Ghanaian could not reproduce his third round feat of 67 and closed with a 74 for an aggregate of +6 over par 294 to finish in second position.

Half-way joint- leader, Haruna, Gboyega Oyebanji and Michael Ubi finished in tied for third position at +9 over par 297. Oyebanji, who has dogged by a hand injury for most of this year, shot a final round 76.

First round leader, Pam and Elisha Markus settled for a tied for sixth at +11 over 299, while Yahaya Liman finished eighth, a stroke further back at 300.

The Camerounian pair of Nlarep Issa and Desire Ebela finished in ninth and tenth place respectively.

Victory helped secure Odoh his third West Africa Golf Tour titles in addition to winning the prize money of $4,000.

“I was hitting the fairways quite right but struggled with the pace of the greens. I played a bogey free round to win my fifth title this year. It is a remarkable victory which will improve my ranking in Nigeria as I have been away from the local tour for a while,’’ Odoh said.

A field of 44 made up of Nigerian and a few international players made the cut and competed for the prize fee of $25,000.