Oche Odoh

By Olawale Ajimotokan

Oche Odoh and Emos Korblah will reignite their tussle for supremacy at the Memorial Tournament which tees off on Thursday at the Otukpo Golf and Country Club.

Odoh, who is currently ranked No.3 on the Nigerian Order of Merit table, behind Korblah and Vincent Torgah, could upstage the Ghanaians to top the half year professional chart if he wins the 72-hole Memorial.

The intensity of the rivalry was underlined last week when veteran Korblah finished one shot off Odoh when the field of international players slugged it out at the ULO Consultants Pro Am at IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja.

While Korblah’s task will be cut out at Otukpo, the Ghanaian is definitely the man to beat as he has won all the three official tournaments events staged this year on the home course of Senate President David Mark.

He clinched the season starter - the Otukpo Pro - Am and brilliantly capped it off with the Papa Mark Memorial and David Mark Charity Pro-Am.

In addition, he finished second at CMCL and ULO to be perched on top of the official ranking table.

Apart from the Otukpo Pro Am where he was not in the top five, Odoh finished in second position in the two other tournaments staged at Akpegede this year.

His growing confidence on his chances at the Memorial can only be summed up with his final round of score of 70 that secured him victory at six under par 282 in Abuja last week.

At ULO, he was in commanding display where aside the winning purse, he pocketed N1 million jackpot, after matching the challenge of the sponsor by shooting a four under par 68.

He achieved the feat by holing a 15- foot bogey putt on the last hole on the second day of the tournament.

”It will be a big fight at Otukpo where I may likely earn the mid year ranking title if I win the Memorial. I know I can beat Korblah because my game is coming up while I am also hitting the ball the way I want to,” Odoh said.