Ghanaian golfer, Vincent Torgah
The ongoing 6th Gold Fields PGA Championship at Damang has witnessed a big shock at the cut of point day when the technical committee led by PGA Tournament Director Akwesi Prempeh, announced after second round of play on Thursday that the iconic West Africa Golf Tour Champion Vincent Torgah, is been disqualified for breaking ground under repair rule (GUR) at hole 15.
Before, the tee off on Wednesday morning during open remarks by official tournament director announced to all players that there has been several changes made to the course but are all marked clearly for easy identification by golfers but should anyone find it difficult PROS should remain professional all the time and contact course Marshalls for explanation without hesitation.
THE REPORT
According to report brought by his group members Samuel Tetteh, from Tema who is a scratch golfer playing to qualify to join Pros and Kwabena Poku, of Royal Golf Club to the disciplinary committee testified by course marshals indicate that, Vincent Torgah landed his hole 15 which is the hole to beat second shot at G.U.R which means playing the third shot from the ground under repair spot is wrong rather go to the drop zone to hit the ball but insisted playing G.U.R.
THE RULES
Per local rules governing Damang golf course, if you play G.U.R without stroke and distance you have to add two strokes to your score before signing your scorecard. Officials revealed that Torgah refused to add the required strokes to his score but went ahead to sign it. Golf is a decent sport so one must adhere to the rule of it to the letter, so a conclusion was drawn using the rules that he misapplied the Damang local rule.
SUPRISE
The amazing question fans and other professional golfers from far and near are asking is that a player like Torgah, who has played and won several tournaments and championships across the Africa region could not appreciate the G.U.R rule to interpretative it better to beat the course.
Many are also saying the course is indeed the St. Andrew of Ghana because hole 15 and 9 and championship determinants holes.
The Tema Country Golf Club man, who was leading the leader board with mine under (-9) course par after two rounds but will now be taken over by Nigerian Christopher Francis who scored 136 gross over two days.
Meanwhile sixty three (63) professional golfers from host Country Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, Cote D'Ivoire and Zimbabwe have been cut to thirty (30) to continue the championship from day three which tees off Friday at 08:00.