Kumasi dominated both the amateur and professional events, sweeping the top prizes in the four-day Asantehene Gold Cup Golf Tournament which ended at the Kumasi Golf Course on Sunday.

Kwadwo Barnie, winner of this year's Ghana Open competition at the same venue scored a gross 157 points to lift the new Gold Cup donated by the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu 11 which replaced the old one won by Peter Korsah of Takoradi for keeps last year in the two-day scratch event played over 36 holes.

His closest challenger George Osei of Takoradi, scored a gross 152 points to place second, while G.W. Aryeetey also of Takoradi followed at third position with a gross 153 points on count back to beat F. Owusu-Ansah also with a gross 153 points to fourth place.

In the handicap event Edem Atiase scored a gross 137 points to win the event and was followed by P.A. Mensah also of Kumasi with 147 points while S.K. Afari scored 148 points to place third, beating Fayez Hage to fourth position also with 148 on count back.

In the youth event, S. Hage of Kumasi scored 78 points to win and was followed at the second position by Y. Odsaard with 79 points while R. Hammelmann scored 83 points to place third.

Evergreen queen golfer,Mona Captan retained the trophy she won last year with a gross 173 points and was followed by G. Kdanlazeh of Tema with a gross 175 points, beating R. Khahil, lady captain of Kumasi to third position on count back with the same points.

Kofi Nimako of Kumasi retained the title he won last year, scoring a gross 291 points in their four-day 72 hole event to win four million cedis cash.

Effa Poku who eventually placed second with a gross 293 points led with 146 points for the first two days but was overtaken by Nimako on the third day.

However, E.K. Korblah, Ghana's most colourful professional golfer exhibited some of the stuff with which he is made of and caught up with Nimako at hole 17.

But determined to retain his position, Nimako showed his prowess at the last handicap where he stroked to victory, leaving Korblah at the third position and for their prizes Effah Poku took away two million cedis, while Korblah had one million cedis.

Delivering the closing speech, Mr Joe Aggrey, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, commended the Asantehene for introducing and sustaining the competition.

He also commended Otumfuo Osei Tutu 11 for initiating and implementing the Otumfuo Education Fund, which he noted had received both local and international acclamation.

He said his ministry viewed the institution of the fund as a way of empowering the youth for the future.

Mr Aggrey, however, observed that most of the nation's sportsmen and women came from disadvantaged homes and found it difficult to go through their education because of financial difficulties.

He therefore appealed to the Asantehene and Trustees of the Fund to pay special attention to the young men and women who excelled in the sporting field in the award of scholarships under the fund to enable them to pursue their education and at the same time give off their best in sports.

Presentations were made by the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu, supported by Mr Prince Adu Agyemang, Chief Executive of the club and Mr Kofi Bawuah, vice-chairman of the club.