L-R: Kayode Oguntayo, Director, Concierge Sports Limited; Taiwo Okeowo, Deputy Managing Director, FBNQuest Merchant Bank Limited; Dr. Anthony Oboh, Golf Captain, Golf Section of Ikoyi Club 1938; Olusegun Alebiosu, Executive Director, Chief Risk Officer, First Bank of Nigeria Limited presenting the trophy to Emmanuel Ojeabulu, winner of the 61st Lagos Open Golf Championship; Nkoli Moka, Lady Captain, Golf Section of Ikoyi Club 1938; Akinwumi Akintola, Vice Chairman, Ikoyi Club 1938 and Ibukun Obatoyinbo; Director, Concierge Sports Limited at the prize presentation and awards dinner of the 61st FirstBank Lagos Amateur Open Golf Championship held recently at the Golf Section of Ikoyi Club 1938, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Emmanuel Ojeabulu, winner of the
61st FirstBank Lagos Open Golf Championship has been listed in the
WAGR.
The premier golf championship
which was held from 18 – 20 November at the golf section of Ikoyi Club 1938 was
keenly contested by over 190 low handicap players from several golf clubs in the
country. Benin
based Emmanuel Ojeabulu won the 3-day championship.
Playing
three-shots off the pace going into the last 18-holes, Ojeabulu played one of
the best golf of his life, maintaining steady pars for a closing 74, 3-over the
course par to win the World Amateur Golf Ranking recognized event by two shots.
Ojeabulu
started his game with an opening 75, a second day score of 78 and a closing 74
to replace Ilorin based Aminu Kadir, the tournament defending champion on the
winners list.
Overnight
leader, 20-year-old product of David Mark Golf Academy, George Paul who was
tipped to win the tournament collapsed under pressure closing with an
unimpressive 79 to lose by two-shots.
In the
third position is Muyideen Olaitan, three-time winner of the coveted FirstBank
Lagos Open trophy while Iyare Osaze was further down on the winners chart by
one-shot, leaving perennial contender, Olajide Owolabi, who shot tournaments
best score of 72 on day two of the competition in the fifth position.
First Bank
of Nigeria Limited, sponsors of the annual Lagos Amateur Open Golf Championship
has pledged its commitment to the continuous sponsorship of the tournament
which is one of the longest running golf tournaments in Nigeria.
Speaking
at the closing ceremony of the 61st edition of the tournament in
Lagos on Sunday, the Chief Executive Officer of FirstBank, Dr. Adesola
Adeduntan who was represented by Executive Director, Chief Risk Officer of
First Bank of Nigeria Limited Mr. Olusegun Alebiosu said “This year made it 61
years of our undiluted commitment to this cause, and we are absolutely
delighted with the amazing support and partnership we have enjoyed from Ikoyi
Club 1938 thus contributing to building a legacy not only for golf and golfers,
but sports in its entirety.
To
all the amateur golfers produced at this year’s championship, these champions
are an inspiration and testament that you can do the impossible and I look
forward to celebrating you as winners in future championships. Remember that in
the words of Ben Hogan, “The most important shot in Golf is the next one”, he added.
Satisfied
with the turnout of the participants, Golf Captain, Tony Oboh thanked the
sponsors for keeping the tournament going, saying FirstBank commitment should
be emulated.
“It is not
easy to keep a tournament like this going, I therefore congratulate FirstBank
for their commitment”, Oboh said.
Since its debut, FirstBank Lagos Amateur Open Golf Championship
has been the most consistent and premier amateur golf event in West Africa and
has produced great champions most of who are competing in the elite
professional golf cadre. Last year, the Championship threw up Ilorin based
Aminu Kadir who won the landmark edition. It is expected that this year’s
edition will produce another great winner.
Other FirstBank-sponsored sporting events include the Georgian Cup
of Kaduna Polo Tournament, sponsored for 102 years; the Dala Tennis Hard Court
in Kano Club for over 30 years; the Obasanjo Pro-Amateur Golf tournament of
Abeokuta Club now in its 6th year. The Bank’s influence in the development of
sport in Nigeria is under its First@Sport initiative.
