News Editor
By Edwin Philip
Winners have emerged after a three day competition among Lady golfers who converged at the Lafia Golf Club for the second edition of the Ladies Open of Lafia Golf Club.
The epic event attracted over 150 Lady golfers across all categories in Nigeria who contended for honours.
The Ladies played a gross game which had three categories. Playing off a handicap of 17 and a gross of 250, Helen Ayo , a serving Police Officer and Captain of Ladies section of the Lokoja Golf Club emerged winner in category one and overall winner in tournament, while Melody Dzam of makurdi Golf Club emerged the first runner up, playing a handicap of 14, played a gross of 255, Ruth Maren of Lafia Golf club playing a handicap of 16, played a gross of 273 while a Nigerian Police force education officer grabbed the second runner up position.
In the second category, playing off handicap 20, the winner J Ekhato of IBB Golf Club Abuja amassed a gross of 277, to emerge winner, while Patience Abechi of Lafia Golf Club, was the first runner up, playing off handicap 19 , with a gross of 277, Jennifer Atabwer handicap 24 grossed 288 as runner up on gross.
In the Ladies Veteran category, playing a handicap of 20, with a gross of 212, U Igbo emerged winner with A Domino placing second.
In the men’s category, category one, Bernard Attah of Lafia Golf Club, playing a handicap of 5, and a gross of 157 and a net of 147 emerged the best gross while Umaru Haruna of Lafia Golf Club, playing off handicap 10, a gross of 158, a net of 148 won the runner up. The net winner in this category was Ibrahim Abdullahi of Lafia Golf Club, playing a handicap of 5, a gross of 147 and a net of 143 was the net winner, as Abubakar Idris of Lafia Golf Club, playing a off a handicap of 20, a gross of 157, a net of 137 to emerged runner up net winner.
In the men veteran category, Muhammad Balarabe, a traditional ruler in Nasarawa, playing for Lafia Golf Club, emerged the winner, playing off a handicap of 28, a gross 223 and a net of 166.
In her winning speech, Helen Ayo, the overall winner praised her team members for playing according to the rules and maintaining best practice while on the course, she commended the club management for putting up a “fantastic tournament,” adding that “the challenging nature of the course has helped folfers to master new techniques of the game and will wish to return to Lafia for another tournament.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the three day event, the Captain of Lafia Golf Club, Arc. John Mlanga commended the ladies section of the club for maintaining the tradition of the club, which ensures that what is worth doing is worth doing well.
He thanked the government of Nasarawa for always responding to the call of the club each time their attention is demanded, adding that golf is a money spinner anytime, anywhere as against other sports, urging the government and investors to look in that direction.
“First of all, I must appreciate the government of Nasarawa State for the support they have always given to us, recently we reported an incidence of ecological degradation at the golf course and yesterday government sent a technical delegation headed by the commissioner of environment to access the situation. Government reaponse has been heart lifting.”
He urged people to retire to playing golf rather than spending their retirement in newspaper stands.
On his part, the representative of the traditional councils of Nasarawa, who are integral part of the club, Sarkin Daddere, Alhaji Muhammad Balarabe, said the traditional council of Nasarawa State are solidly behind the club and would do everything possible to ensure that the course is playable all round and would constantly draw the attention of government and concern citizens to support the club.
It would be recalled that the three Golf tourney was teed off by the First Lady of Nasarawa State, Hajia Salifat Sule and witnessed by, other notable women in the State as well as the representatives of Ladies Golfers Association of Nigeria and the Lady Captain of Lafia Golf Club, Mrs Marylinda Ogbole.
