Sarjo Conateh, a Gambian amateur golfer based in Norway, has emerged as overall winner of the Qatar Cup golf tournament organised by the Embassy of the State of Qatar in The Gambia with a stableford of 39 points.
The tournament, which featured both professional and amateur golfers and played at the Fajara Golf Course from Friday 31 January to Sunday 2 February 2014, was part of events marking the National Sports Day of Qatar.
In the level 1 category (handicap 10 -14) and level 2 category (handicap 15- 28) there were three winners in each category with the first position receiving a set of golf clubs, second position 3 wooden golf clubs and the third position a golf club bag.
There were also 3 prizes for the ladies. Other prizes were also given to the nearest to the pin hole number 9 (for ladies) and hole number 15 (for men); nearest to the rope hole number 18, and visitors prizes were also awarded to winners.
Each of the 7 field workers at the Fajara Golf Course received a cash prize of D2,000.
In the professional category, the winner received a cash prize of 500 euro, second-place received 300 euro, and third position received 200 euro.
Fa Kebba Drammeh, alias Gambian Tiger Woods, emerged as winner of the professional category with a medal score of 129 in two rounds.
Dodou Kassama took second position with a medal score of 145 in two rounds, while Alhagi Drammeh took third position with a medal score of 148 in two rounds.
Speaking to reporters after the awarding of prizes to all winners at the Fajara Club, Sarjo Conateh, winner of the tournament, said: “It was very nice joining the tournament because this is my first tournament in The Gambia since I left the country about 26 years ago.”
He described winning the tournament as a pleasure for him as an amateur golfer.
“Golf is improving in The Gambia since they are now involving the youth,” he remarked, saying: “This means there is future in golf in The Gambia.”
He said the competition was tough as there were a lot of good players taking part in it but said he had to keep his head down, to play his own game and enjoy it.
His Excellency Mohamed Nasser Al-Kaabi, Qatar Ambassador to The Gambia, said he did not play well during the competition but enjoyed the game, especially watching the professional golfers play, adding that they played very well, especially Fa Kebba Drammeh.
“Every year we have our National Sports Day in February; so for Gambia to join us in our National Sports Day I decided to organise this golf tournament,” he said.
Henceforth, he declared, the competition will be staged yearly in The Gambia, adding that it will be bigger each year with the prizes also getting bigger every year.
Hopefully next year they will invite neighboring countries to take part in the tournament, he intimated, saying golf is one of the sports he likes, which is one reason he organised the tournament.
