Yaounde International Golf Open - Ebella Desire Emerges Runner up

Ebella Desire is the revelation from the just ended 3rd Yaounde International Golf Open. After the demise of last year's champion, Joel Monefang, Ebella Desire emerged as the only hope for Cameroon to lift the continental trophy in the final last Saturday at the Yaounde Golf Club. However, this was without counting on the dexterity and experience of Ghanaian born, Amos who managed to keep his two-strike advantage in the final despite a tough challenge from Ebella Desire spurred by cheers from the home crowd. In the end, experience won over enthusiasm as the Ghanaian came first, followed by Ebella Desire and Oyebanyi Gboyega of Nigeria in the third position.

Despite missing the 6.5 million cash prize put to play, Ebella Desire revealed himself as the hope of Cameroonian golf given that he has been number one in all competitions at home and was the third during the last Manda Open in Gabon. The 28 year-old golfer, went professional since the year 2000 and has since been progressing in the game tremendously. The competition which took place from May 5 to 12 brought together 60 professionals and about 180 amateur players from Gabon, Nigeria, Gambia, Cote d'Ivoire, D.R. Congo, Senegal, France, Morocco and Cameroon.

According to the president of the Cameroon Golf Federation, Yves Martin Assiga Ahanda, the organisation of the tournament falls within the plan of action of the federation which include among other things; organising regular opens in Cameroon, increasing the number of licensed players, creating golf schools and golf playgrounds, establishing a federal championship, striking partnerships with other federations and improving on the organisation of golf tournaments in the country. The federation currently has about 500 licensed players, with golf clubs in Likomba-Tiko, Petpenoun in Foumbot and of course the Yaounde Golf club.