Odoh Covets Equatorial Guinea Open Treble

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

Nigeria’s only world ranked professional golfer, Andrew Oche Odoh has offered reasons why he loved to play the 3e Actuaries Equatorial Guinea Open Championship.

Odoh will be bidding to become the first professional golfer to win the Equatorial Guinea Open three times when the tournament tees off in Mongomo, next week, with an expanded field of 60 international players.

He said his passion for the tournament hovers around the Presidential Golf Course in Mongomo, that is suited to his style of play.

“The course suits my eyes and style. I like to move the ball around. Mongomo is not just one of the golf courses where you play and hope; you have to go out, play, execute your plan and know what you are doing. My game rounded on the two occasions when I won, which is why I am trying to get in shape before I get into the event,” Odoh said.

The South Africa-based player said he would try and get himself in proper condition for the Equatorial Guinea challenge by holding his final preparation at Lakowe Lakes Golf Club, Lagos over three days, begining from Friday.

Odoh said he considered Lakowe Lakes as the only club in Nigeria with features that are similar to the lush Mongomo golf course.

The player arrived Nigeria five days ago and has been practicing on his swing at the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja.

Odoh won the Equatorial Guinea Open in 2014 and 2015 but failed to muster a challenge last year because he played with borrowed set of golf clubs, after the airline lost his golf bag during flight change over between Johannesburg and Lagos.

The tournament with cash prize of $150 000, will feature players from UK, Spain, USA, Pakistan, Brazil, South Korea, France, Ghana, Cameroon, Austria, Kenya, Gabon, Zambia, South Africa, Nigeria among others.

Ghana’s Vincent Torgah, Kojo Barnini and Daniel Pam and S.J Odegha of Nigeria are first time participants after they scaled the qualifying tournament held in Ibadan in October. Korea’s Charlie Wi is also the only PGA professional contesting.

But Odoh insisted that his objective is to beat the entire field on December 17, irrespective of the profile and nationality of who is coming.

” A lot of good players are coming, but all I want to do is try and focus on my own game and get myself to play and compete. I am also interested in bettering my 2015 scores over 72 holes. If I can beat the course, beating everybody will only be automatic, ” Odoh said.

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