The Nigerian Golf Federation mourns the dead of the Christian Godfrey and Ali Abdullahi who died in car accident on their way to honour a golf tournament in Minna on Wednesday May 19, 2010.
Christian Godfrey, one of the dead players was the first Nigerian to be fielded in an European Tour field. He also died being the first golfer to win the NGF’s most prestigious event; The President Open, back-to-back.
He will be remembered also as the Nigeria’s holder of the course record of IBB International Golf Championship and Le Meridien Ibom Golf Course in Uyo, the two most rated championship course in the country.
Ali Abdullahi did the country proud with a win of the 16th Moanda Open in Gabon in April and the 1st Cameroon International Golf and Country Club last week in Yaounde.
Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, the President of NGF, said the Nigerian golfing community would not forget these great golf ambassadors soon.
“We are very proud of them†he said “They are mentor and now they have now become heroes in the history of the nation’s golf historyâ€
The NGF hopes that the Nigerian Professional Golfers Association would over come their painful demise.
“The PGA has gone though a lot of transformation in recent times and the lost of these two players, I hope it would motivate them to do more for their memory.
As partners in golf development we; the NGF believes that more record breakers and exceptional players are just about to arise in our country†He added.