Ugandan professional (pro) golfer Abbey Bagalana shot 1-under par (71 gross) in the second round of the Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Golf Open on Thursday, 22nd April 2021 at the par-72 President’s Club in Yamoussoukro.
Bagalana had shot 2-over par 74 in the opening round a day earlier and the Thursday result implied that he made a three stroke improvement though he drops from 17th (tie) in day one to 22nd in day two due to an overall improvement of all the 30 players who made the cut.
After two rounds, Bagalana’s overall score is 1-over par 145 making him the best East African player in the tournament so far.
Bagalana, the only Ugandan in the tournament that’s marking its 21st staging now aims for a strong finish overall and hopes to put in a much better shift in the third round today.
“My aim is to dig deeper tomorrow,” Bagalana who was invited for the four-day event by President of the Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Golf Federation Kouakou Laussi Emmanuel Koffi noted just after the second round on Thursday.
However, Nigerian Vincent Torgah who was second on day one is now leader after two rounds with 10-under par 134.
Day one leader, Willy Gift also Nigerian is second off 8-under par 136. He’s however tied with two other players, that is; country mate Andrew Odoh and Ghanaian Emos Korblah.
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.
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.
This tournament’s pro kitty is 38,000 Euros.
