No matter what the outcome of the final round is Austin Akpodiete display of calmness at the 21st Air Assault Open in Port Harcourt will go down as one of the highpoints of the event.
He is tied with Ibadan Golf Club professional, Emeka Obi atop the leaderboard at 212, four under par after 56 holes.But beyond the trailblazing 67, five under that Obi returned on Saturday, it is Akpodiete’s consistence that might hold the ace at the closing round.
“I am very satisfied with my game right now, I guess a lot of personal issues had weighed too much on my game in the past and I am beginning to compartmentalize that in my mind and it has been helpful.
“Like everybody here, I would love to win this event and register my first PGA win” Akpodiete told pganigeria.com
The best he has finished on the Tour was a second runner-up at Francis Olo Birthday Championship in Oturkpo last year, but Emeka’s Obi’s experience and the army of brilliant scores that dropped in the third round will not make Akpodiete’s dream come easy.
Kingsley Oparakwu and Izang Ayuba both returned four under to close-in on the title at joint third place. Ugochukwu Kingsley also returned a 69 on his card. Meanwhile homeboy Egbedi Williams has been the leading light of amateur players as he rub shoulders with the professional with his immaculate one under score after three rounds.
The game ends on Sunday with the finals of the all the categories but the spotlight will be on who takes over from Mike Ubi as the 21st Air Assault Open Champion.
PLAYER | DAY 1 | DAY 2 | DAY 3 | TOTAL | REMARK |
OBI Emeka | 73 | 72 | 67 | 212 | -4 |
AKPODIETE Austin | 70 | 71 | 71 | 212 | -4 |
EGBEDI Williams(Am) | 73 | 69 | 73 | 215 | -1 |
OPARAKU Kingsley | 73 | 75 | 68 | 216 | E |
IZANG Ayuba | 75 | 73 | 68 | 216 | E |
UGOCHUKWU Kingsley | 76 | 72 | 69 | 217 | 1 |
OLAPADE Sunday | 75 | 72 | 70 | 217 | 1 |
PATRICK Paul | 74 | 68 | 75 | 217 | 1 |
ONUH Francis | 74 | 71 | 73 | 218 | 2 |
OGUNSANYA Goke | 74 | 75 | 71 | 220 | 4 |
ISIFE Chimere(Am) | 74 | 74 | 72 | 220 | 4 |
WILLY Gift | 73 | 74 | 73 | 220 | 4 |
ANDREW Emmanuel(Am) | 75 | 71 | 74 | 220 | 4 |
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