Advertiser wins president's putter

Accra, Feb. 20, GNA - Martin Osei, 31 year-old advertiser returned a net score of 63 to beat 69 other top-notch golfers to be become this year's winner of the President's Putter staged at the Tema Country Golf Course on Sunday.

It was the second major victory for the young golfer after snatching the Bok Nam Kim Open trophy last year.

The Celebrity golfer was a stroke better than his runner up Kwabena Boakye, who was four strokes better than his closest competitors. Osei told the GNA after receiving his trophy that he intends to strive hard to lower his handicap of 24 to a single digit within the next three years.

He said he was not ambitious to turn professional since it would conflict with his job as an advertiser.

Phil McCaulley put up a splendid performance to return a net score of 68 to place third beating Akwesi Poku and Austin Irabor on countback. Shupi Mapuranga, a Zimbabwean golfer who was one of the representatives of the Achimota Golf Club, was easily crowned winner of the ladies event with a net score of 64.

Esther Bhavnani, tipped to cause "havoc" was a distant second with a net score of 69, a stroke better than Mary Hanson.

Golfers from the Tema Country Golf Club, Celebrity, Achimota and Bok Nam Kim, competed in the 18-hole full handicap event.

The President's Putter, staged every last Sunday of February had to be pushed forward because it's original date of February 27, coincided with this year's Guinness Open scheduled for Kumasi.