Gambian-Swedish
professional golfer Lamin Touray and Fajara Club youngest member Alasan Jallow
(14-year-old) were yesterday Sunday 5 February 2015 crowned overall champions
of the 4th Edition of Qatar Open Golf tournament.
The
3-day tournament organised by the Qatar Embassy in Banjul was played at the
Fajara golf course. It brought together 62 golfers from different African
countries.
Touray
emerged as winner of the professional category with a medal score of 144 in 36
holes.
He
received 1,000 Euro as winner. Dodou Kassama, a Gambian professional golfer,
was tight on second position with Senegalese professional golfer Papey Niang.
They received 400 Euro each.
Saydina
Diogue, a Senegalese professional golfer, took 4th position while Gainak Diouf
and Abdul Wane both Senegalese professional golfers, finished joint 5th
position.
The
7th position was occupied by Senegalese Gibril Bal and Gambian Yusupha Tamba.
Gambia Bakary Touray took 9th postion. Senegalese El Hadji Diouf and Gambia’s
Pa Famara Jatta widely called J.J. and Lamin Jammeh finished 10th position.
All winners were rewarded handsomely.
Alasan
Jallow emerged winner of the amateur men’s category I while Yusupha Conteh took
second position. The third place was secured by Senegalese Pateh Ngum.
In
the amateur men’s category II, Hassan emerged as the winner. Arona Fye took
second while Barry Twiss finished third position.
In
the amateur women’s category Ester Walsh came out winner while Daba Saine took
second position.
The
men’s longest drive prize went to Gibril Ndong while that of the ladies was won
by Katty Njie.
Other
prizes were also presented to deserving winners.
Muhammed
Al-Kabi, Qatar Ambassador to The Gambia, speaking to reporters shortly after
the ceremony, said he plans to stage a two-day competition for amateurs and a
three-day competition for professionals next year due to the yearly increasing
number of players in the tournament.
He
advised Gambian professional golfers to at least be practicing 8 hours a day to
be in top form, saying practicing once a week will not help them in their
game.
Hon.
Hamat Bah, Minister of Tourism and Culture, assured Gambia Golf Association
that Barrow’s government will do whatever it takes to have a professional golf
course in The Gambia that will attract people all over the world to come to the
country, “because as a government we want to attract quality tourists”.
They
want to attract people who will come and enjoy themselves as well as spend
money in the country, he added, saying the government also wants to ensure that
tourists are given maximum satisfaction, with much experience including
exposing them to beautiful sites across the country.
He
urged the GGA to put their house in order as government works earnestly towards
giving the GGA a fitting golf course that will be recognized all over the
world.
