Winners have emerged after after a three days competition among golfers who converged at Lafia Golf Club for the second Ladies Open of Lafia Golf Club, the tournament which saw over 150 golfers across all categories in Nigeria contending for honours.
The Ladies who played a gross game featured in 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 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.
Others are Ruth Maren of Lafia Golf, playing a handicap of 16, played a gross of 273, a Nigerian Police force educational officer grabbed the position of the second runner up.
In the second category, playing off a handicap of 20, played a gross 277, J Ekhato of IBB Golf Club Abuja, emerged the winner, while Patience Abechi of Lafia Golf Club, was the first runner up, playing off a handicap of 19 , got a gross of 277, Jennifer Atabwer of Lafia playing off the handicap of 24, with a gross of 288 was the runner up gross winner.
In the Ladies Veteran category, playing a handicap of 20, got a gross of 212, Igbo U emerged the winner while Domino A.emerged 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 a handicap of 10, a gross of 158, a net of 138 won the runner up gross, 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 137 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 147 emerged the 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.
Celebrating her victory, 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 management of the club for putting up a fantastic tournament, adding that the challenging nature of the course has helped her to master new techniques in playing golf and will wish to return to Lafia for another tournament.
Speaking to journalist shortly after the three days 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 ensuring 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 delegation of of technical people headed by the commissioner of environment to come and access and observation was made and completed, we have sent to government and that has been heart lifting”
He urged people to retire to playing golf rather spending their retirement in newspaper stands.
On his his part, the representative of the traditional councils of Nasarawa, who are integral part of the club, Sarkin Dedere, Alhaji Muhammad Balarabe, said the traditional council of Nasarawa State is solidly behind the club and would do everything possible to ensure that the course is well kept all round and would constantly draw the attention of government and concern citizens to support the club.
The three Golf tourney was teed off by the First Lady of Nasarawa State, Hajiya Salifat Abbdulahi Sule , along side 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.