ACCRA, December 4, 2023 - Nigerian golfer, Sunday Olapade won the 2023 Gold Fields PGA Championship held in Damang in the Western Region of Ghana after beating Ghana’s Kojo Barnni in exciting playoff finals on Saturday.
Olapade denied Barnni a record fourth triumph to become the second foreigner to lift the trophy after Christopher Francis, another Nigerian, made history in 2019.
BEATING THE DEFENDING CHAMPION On the fourth and final day of the professional golf tournament, Olapade beat the defending champion Barnni, who is also the only player to have won it back-to-back in 2017 and 2018, to take home the cash prize of 80,000 Ghanaian Cedis, the championship trophy as well as the blue jacket.
He told Yours Truly: “I was just following Barnni who knew the course, not to make mistakes, and when he slipped I took over, I think we all played well and congrats to everyboby.”
SUPPORT FOR OLAPADE He enjoyed support from some golfers from other clubs who did not want Barnni to win, and after the last stroke the caddie of the reigning champion burst into tears.
Vincent Torgah, a former winner in 2014, 2016 and 2021 was third, while Augustine Manasseh took the fourth position.
Emos Korblah who won the regular pros in 2015 took the first position in the seniors, while Constance Awuni won the ladies who are aspiring to become pro players.
9TH EDITION Officials of Gold Fields and PGA Ghana described the 9th edition Championship as very successful and stimulating.
The 2023 Gold Fields PGA Championship was sponsored by Engineers and Planners, Genser Energy, Total Energies, Gaso Petroleum, Liebherr Ghana, Carmeuse, Barbex, Classic Cristken, and AECI Ghana.
