After four rounds, Ugandan professional (pro) golfer Abbey Bagalana tied for 16th with two other players in the 21st edition of the Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Golf Open that came to a close on Saturday, 24th April 2021 at the par-72 President’s Club in Yamoussoukro.
Bagalana shot an overall 2-under par 286 (74, 71, 69, 72) and shared the same score with Ghanaian Annan Lucky Aisha (75, 69, 68, 74) and ‘home boy’ (Ivorian) Romaric Djezou (74, 69, 72, 71).
Abbey Bagalana who was the only Ugandan in the tournament finished above all the other East Africans who made the cut. All the three Kenyans made the cut and the Ugandan neighbors were the only other East African nation to be represented at the meet.
Kenyan duo of John Wangai and Edwin Asuza tied for 20th off 1-over par 289. They shot 78, 69, 71, 71 and 75, 72, 72, 70 respectively.
The other kenyan Jastas Madoya tied for 26th with Ghanaian Govinous Kwame off 296. They shot 74, 74, 75, 73 and 81, 68, 73, 74 respectively.
Bagalana was invited for the four-day event by President of the Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Golf Federation Kouakou Laussi Emmanuel Koffi.
However, Emos Korblah (Ghana) beat Zimbabwe’s Sydney Wemba in playoffs to emerge overall winner of the tournament with the latter finishing as runner up.
After 72 holes, Korblah and Wemba were both having 17-under par 271; 68, 68, 68, 67 and 68, 70, 67, 66 respectively and with scores even, matters had to be settled in playoffs with the Ghanaian taking the day and claiming the biggest chunk of the 38,000 Euros pro kitty.
The Ivory Coast Open or Open de Côte d’Ivoire is a golf tournament in the Ivory Coast. It was founded in 1980, and was an event on the Safari Circuit the following year. It was an event on the European-based Challenge Tour schedule in 1990 and 1991, and from 1996 to 1999. It has been held at President Golf Club, Yamoussoukro and Ivoire Golf Club, Abidjan.
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Previously, the title has been won by some of the best golfers in the world, including Vijay Singh, Ian Poulter and Gary Player. The most successful player is Englishman Gordon J. Brand, who recorded three wins between 1981 and 1988.
