Mensah-Wisbom wins Tema’s SkyTeam Invitational Golf

George Mensah-Wisbom stood tallest in a hot field of golfers when the curtain fell on this year’s SkyTeam Invitational golf tournament at the Country Golf Club in Tema last Saturday. Mensah-Wisbom returned a net score of 64 playing off handicap 15 to beat runner-up Charles Martey by two strokes to claim his first win of 2012. James Otoo, playing off handicap 17, returned net 69 to place third in what was men’s group A division. For the win, Mensah-Wisbom received a huge trophy and a Kenya Airways fully packaged trip to Nairobi that entail a return air ticket, hotel accommodation and two entries into a golf tournament in the Kenyan capital, including the highly prestigious Nairobi Open. Men’s group B winner Charles Cofie and Ladies champion Victoria Adjei are also recipients of the luxurious trip to Kenya.

“I’m not surprised because I’ve been training very hard. Now I want to train even harder for the Nairobi Open so that I will make Ghana proud when I go there. My other targets are to also win the Accra Open coming up and the Tafo Open,” George Mensah-Wisbom told www.sportsinghana.com at the height of his joy. The one-day invitational competition held under the auspices of the SkyTeam group comprising Alitalia, Kenya Airways, AirFrance, KLM, Delta & Middle East Airlines and 1 minor sponsor, Zenith Bank, has rotated among golf clubs since its inception a couple of years ago. The Celebrity Golf Club in Sakumono played hosts to the maiden event in 2010 before Achimota Golf Club took their turn last year.

Now after the success in Tema this year, the SkyTeam won’t reveal the 2013 destination but according to Axel Metselaar, KLM and AirFrance Regional Manager, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, the success of staging the event in Tema means they could return to the harbour city earlier than envisaged.

“Every time we have changed the location and challenging is always a subject but after this, we are motivated. The participation was excellent, we had a few people coming but the vast majority were here to compete,” Mr. Metselaar told www.sportsinghana.com exclusively.

He continued: “The climate was also very favourable and we are proud to offer our loyal customers this platform for social interaction. Actually Kenya Airways have given airfare to Nairobi for the top 3 winners, 2 night stay in a hotel and two entries to the golf club. Instead of just the usual air tickets, it’s a complete package for the golfers this time.”

The Men’s group B category was won by former Unilever Ghana CEO Charles Cofie after beating Kalmoni Jalal into 2nd place. Both men played off handicap 28 but Mr. Cofie returned net 63, 7 shots clear of Jalas’s 70 net.

In the ladies category, former Tema Ladies Captain Victoria Adjei returned 70 net to beat into the runner-up spot, Adelaide Owusu Adjapong who returned net 71. Closest to the pin prizes went to immediate former President of Tema Country Golf Club, Hon. Felix Owusu-Adjapong in the males division with Diana Baiden claiming the females’ accolade.

The longest drive for men and ladies was won by the strokes of David A and Pamela Yeboah respectively.

“The last time KLM sponsored an event here was as far as back as 1994. Well it’s been a long time but we are glad that you are back and we say you are welcomed. Anytime you come back here, you will always be welcome,” said Tema Captain, Dr. Paul Owusu-Baah in his closing speech.