The 2012 Gambia Open golf tournament ended on Friday at the Fajara Golf Course. Swedish-based Gambian professional Lamin Touray was crowned this year's champion after outclassing 60 professionals.

Touray pipped England-based Fakebba Drammeh, the man regarded as the Gambian Tiger Wood who won the last two editions of the championship but could only finish joint fourth this time.

The victorious Lamin Touray said he was elated at winning the trophy. "I feel very proud and humble because I have been a professional since 1993 and then I went abroad living in Sweden and playing there. I am the only Gambian PGA player based in Sweden.

So I have been waiting for this for nearly 20 years. So I can't believe it still. It's a joy, even now I can't explain the feelings I am having. I am very excited and proud to be named the Gambian Open winner."

He added: "Actually I didn't have an easy tournament because I knew it will be hard. You have to maintain your pace, the game is mental like 90 minutes mental. You have to [also] believe in yourself [ and ] in what you are doing. Just be against the course and that was what made me successful in the tournament."

The second place winner,Sierra Leonean Paul Kargbo said he was pleased with his finish even though he was disappointed he narrowly missed becoming the champion.

Also speaking to this reporter, Fakebba Drammeh said he was disappointed but overall he was happy with his fourth place finish. He said that a rough start played a part in him missimg out on the title. "I had a rough start in the beginning, in the first day I was behind.

So I really needed to put in a good score and to close up on the second day, which on average I played a level par and the other [players] happened to minimise their damage but overall I am pleased with the way I played. I just said to myself it was just a bad day."