The countdown to the activities marking the 52nd
Independent anniversary celebration of Nigeria continues at the golf section of
the Ikoyi club 1938 as the professional golf players take centre stage at the
on-going Heineken Nigeria Golf cup tournament today.
The week-long programme, which is the most
glamorous golf tournament in the country, will see all attention focused on
Lateef Lasisi, Bashiru Bakare, Nojeem Sofela and Emos Korblah that are favourites
in the 18-hole competition.
Last year, it took a playoff to determine the best
among the trio of Bakare, Femi Olagbenro and Chidi Tobias. Bakare eventually emerged
as the winner. Although Bakare had to dig deep down into his golf bag to
overcome the visiting duo of Olagbenro and Tobias, the defending champion said
he is optimistic of retaining his honour in spite of several oppositions
awaiting him at the refurbished golf course.
“I am in good frame of mind and confident to retain
the cup knowing fully well that all other contenders are poised to give me a
stiff contest I still have the magic wand,” said Bakare who got his tour card
in Holland, the home of Heineken Lager beer.
He is expected to be joined by over 50 professional
golfers from across the country for the N2.5m staked in the professional
category.
The list include, Lateef Lasisi, the only Nigerian
to have won the Nigeria Open, MicCom Golf and Country Club-based Nojeem Sofela
and Tunde Raheem of Ikeja Golf Club.
Meanwhile, Peter Friday has emerged winner of the
Caddies Competition decided on Monday after a score of 79 while Olusegun
Emmanuel won the Caddies Master competition. Other winners in the caddie
competition are Favour Efenede, who won the ladies event after grossing a score
of 106 while Alumona’s 110-gross placed her in the second position.
The Heineken Nigeria Cup is one of the tournaments
put in place by the Nigerian Community at Ikoyi Club to celebrate the nation’s
independence anniversary and over the years, it has been fully supported by the
international premium lager beer brand, Heineken from the stables of Nigerian
Breweries Plc.
“Being a premium international sport, Heineken has
always identified with golf”, said Media and Public Affairs Manager of Nigerian
Breweries Plc Mr. Edem Vindah.
“We are glad to identify with Ikoyi Club 1938 in
the promotion of golf in Nigeria and knowing full well that Heineken is a
premium international beer with presence in over 170 countries and the sport is
also internationally recognised hence the synergy between the two is
perfect," he explained at the official presentation recently at Ikoyi Club
early this month.
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