Nigeria’s Oche Odoh started as a genuine contender for 3E Actuaries Equatorial Guinea Open Championship title yesterday, following an opening round of -3 under 69 at the Presidential Golf Course, Mongomo.
The winner of the inaugural edition held two years ago in Malabo, tied Spain’s Xavier Puig Gimer as the overnight leaders.
It was a perfect result for Odoh, who was playing in Mongomo for the first time.
Ghanaian Gbenyor Anthony carded a 71 to stay two shots outside the lead.
He is in a bunch of five players tied for third position. T. Muradzikwa of Zimbabwe, Parker Lewis and Matt Rice of UK plus Nigeria’s second year professional Kamilu Bako, and Ebela Desire of Cameroon all in that category.
Defending champion, Gift Willy, shot one over 73 to stay in 13th position, two places ahead of Nigeria’s Order of Merit leader, Sunday Olapade. Olapade grossed +2 over par 73 to lie in 15th position.
The professional tournament that attracts the prize purse of $75,000 will now be played as a 54- hole contest instead of the 72-hole earlier advertised.
Ghanaian Emos Korblah made double bogies on a stretch of three holes, starting from hole number 6. He came in with 76 to lie in 32nd place, while Nigeria’s Fred Eweka took seven strokes on the final hole for a 12 over par 84 that left him in 44th place.
The highlight of yesterday’s round was the disqualification of Ghana’s Klah Stephen for signing a wrong score card.
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