Golf: Barnni leads hunt for Gold Fields PGA title

Former Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) Professional Golfer of the Year, Kojo Barnni heads a list of Ghanaian golfers who will contest the 2020 Gold Fields Professional Golfers Association (PGA) golf tournament slated for between November 25, 2020, and November 28, 2020.

Barnni, a golf tutor at Tarkwa Golf Club qualified for the seventh-edition of Ghana's flagship golf tournament with the best points tally (136) of all the 32 participants.

Bid for treble

Barni is in the hunt for a treble of Gold Fields PGA titles after winning the 2017 and 2018 editions and he will be hoping to translate his qualifying results to the four-day tournament which will tee-off on the pristine lawns of the Damang Golf Course in Tarkwa.

At a press briefing for the tournament yesterday in Accra, the Executive Vice President and Head of Gold Fields West Africa, Mr Alfred Baku, disclosed that this year's competition has been restricted to only Ghanaian golfers in a bid to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a result, Nigerian Christopher Francis who broke the strangle-hold of Ghanaian golfers on the competition when he won last year's competition will not be able to defend his title.

However, Mr Baku assured that Francis' absence would not rob the event of its quality given the high calibre of golfers that will participate in the tournament.

Notable golfers in the regular contest include Vincent Torgah, Emos Korblah, Emmanuel Osei, Kwame Ligbidi, Yaw Barry Dzadey, Prince Q. Amponsah and George Osei.

Mr Alfred Baku addressing yesterday's press briefing

The rest are Enoch Owusu, John Mawuli, Wincott Ankrah, Francis Torgah, Philip Paitey, Godwin Sai, Stephen Klah, David Doe, Quinton Sherlock, Robert Degbe, Anthony Gbenyor, Lucky Annan Ayidah, Theophilus Govinous, Maxwell Owusu Bonsu, Kwabena Poku and Amponsah Richard.

Meanwhile, this year's seniors' contest has been reserved for only eight veteran golfers and it will be contested by Victor Brave-Mensah, Frank W. Asorgba, James Larry, Paul Nyarko, Peter Korsah, Akwasi Prempeh, Chichi Charles and Padori Ahmed.

"24 regulars will play all rounds for four days, while eight seniors will play for three days. There will not be a cut for this year," Mr Baku said.

"Last year, about 14 pro golfers from Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Togo, Zimbabwe, Senegal and Gabon participated in the tournament. Unfortunately, Christopher Francis, the 2019 champion from Nigeria will not be able to defend his title because the competition is opened to only Ghana-based professional golfers".

Prize money

Mr Baku said the total prize money for this year's tournament is GH₵167,000.

He said the winner of the main tournament would win a GH₵40,000 cash prize while the winner of the seniors' contest would earn a GH₵9,000 cash prize.

"The winning cash prize in GH₵40,000 for regulars and GH₵ 9,000 for seniors, just as it was in 2019. The total cash prize to be awarded is GH₵167,000 and every golfer would get a prize"

COVID-19 precautions

Mr Baku assured that the event would adhere strictly to all the COVID-19 prevention protocols including a mandatory PCR test for all persons who will be involved in the tournament.

"We assure our golfers, caddies and other participants that all necessary COVID-19 prevention protocols will be in place to ensure that everyone is safe".