Top golfers to vie for Nigeria Cup

By Ifeanyi Ibeh


September 15, 2010





As many as fifty professional golfers from across the country are expected to take part in the fast approaching Nigeria Cup 2010 National Day Golf Tournament.

The tournament which is now in its 14th year at the Ikoyi Club, Lagos, following its inaugural edition back in 1997, is part of activities by the club to commemorate Nigeria’s national day, and this year’s edition will see some of the country’s top golfers competing alongside their amateur counterparts for honours.

Frank Gboneme the vice captain of the host club’s golf section disclosed this in Lagos on Tuesday at a press briefing to herald this year’s tournament. Gboneme also revealed the other programmes lined up by the event’s organisers to mark Nigeria’s golden jubilee anniversary.

The qualifiers for the Nigeria Cup took place last on Saturday at the Ikoyi Club but the main draw doesn’t take place until September 28 when the professional players will vie for the two million cash prize that is up for grabs with their amateur counterparts in the Pro-Am tournament.

This event will however be preceded by a golf tournament for children, as well as a children’s creative class on September 25 and 26. The latter is in conjunction with the African Art Resource Centre which will be providing over 20 renowned artists to tutor the children.

A day later, on the September 27, the caddies will take to the course, while the ladies will have their turn on September 30.

Four-Club competition

On October 1, an innovative event, tagged the Four-Club competition, will be held at the venue. It will allow each competitor take to the golf course - not with their complete range of golf clubs, but with their favourite four clubs.

“In a normal tournament, a golfer can take to the course with as much as 14 clubs but this competition will see the golfers limiting themselves to just four clubs,” Gboneme said. “So it becomes tricky at some stage.”

The Four-Club competition won’t be the only event planned for Nigeria’s national day as there will also be a cultural night with fireworks to precede the Gentleman’s Final which comes up the following day.

Gboneme also used Tuesday’s press briefing to thank the various corporate bodies that have contributed to the success story of the Nigeria Cup National Day Golf Tournament. They include UBA, Diamond Bank, Oando Petroleum and Nigeria Breweries, makers of Heineken in Nigeria.