sport: $8000, 500 points up for grab at Port-Harcourt W/Africa Golf Tour...

Hon. Terngu Tsegba (L) presents a prize to a lady golfer at the end of the 14th Ladies Open at the IBB Golf Club in 2012

The third edition of the West Africa Golf Tour will be staged by the Golf section of Port-Harcourt club beginning from May 12 to 15.

Nigerian professionals, Oche Odoh and Kingsley Oparaku won the first two editions held in Abuja and Ilara-Mokin in February and March respectively.
As usual, at the Port-Harcourt event, the professional field is expected to comprise of golfers from West and Central Africa region who will battle for the star prize of $8,000 and 500 points that will be at stake.
The total prize money for the event as disclosed by the organisers is $50,000.
The Port Harcourt Classic is a 72-hole professional tournament with a cut of 40 players and ties made after 36 holes.
Emeka Okatta who is the President of the West Africa Tour said Port-Harcourt was selected as host of the third edition because it met all the requirements to host an international tournament of such magnitude.
The Captain of Port Harcourt Club Golf Section, Emmanuel Okene lauded the decision to stage the tournament in the city just as he expressed confidence that with the support of the relevant partners, the club would stage a world-class tournament.
“Rivers State is excited by this news as this is an opportunity to showcase our golf course to the world. It will also impact on the efforts to develop the game on different platforms as a product that will attract corporate interest and more players,” Okene declared.
Port Harcourt Club which was founded in 1928 plays as a par 70 golf course and is 5,457 meters in length.
Apart from the pros, amateur golfers will also play between May 14-15 after payment of N20, 000 registration fee.
Golf action will then move from Port-Harcourt to Abuja from June 22-26 when the B& E Match Play will be staged.
According to the organisers of the event which is also on the West Africa Golf Tour, it will grant 600 points for the Order of Merit.
While the pros will play from June 23-26, the amateur hold their event on June 25-26.