Despite the inclement weather that characterized the better part of last weekend, the 50th edition of FirstBank Lagos Amateur Open Golf Championship at Ikoyi Club came to an eventful end with Abimbola Mofuf of Ikoyi Golf Club emerging the Overall Gross winner of the prestigious tournament.

At the two-day tournament, which kicked-off on Friday, October 21 with 70 players, zero handicapped Moruf returned 80 strokes on the first day and 78 on day-two, which saw him grossing 158 points to lead the tournament with five strokes over four handicapper Timothy Ayomike, also from Ikoyi Club who settled for the Runner –Up Overall gross of 163 points trophy.

Peter Eben-Spiff, a three handicap player came third. The major upset at the tournament is the performance of a two handicapper, Olaitan M, from Ikeja Golf Club who came fourth. Olaitan had won the trophy twice in 2006 and 2009.

One of the highlights of the three-day activities was the coaching clinic anchored by two European golf player and coach, Ian Keenan, a European Challenge Tour Golf Professional and Lee Corcoran, a Master PGA coach. The coaching session was witnessed by a large crowd of amateur golfers.

Speaking during the award dinner held at the Civic Centre, Ozumba Mbadiwe Road, Victoria Island, Lagos, the sponsor of the dinner and FirstBank’s Executive Director, Private Banking, Bernadine Okeke, praised the high standard of the game, adding that the Bank would continue to support the championship.

This resolve, she said, informed the decision to bring in two foreign golf experts to assist the local amateur and professional golfers up their game.

She said: “As new talents are nurtured through this tournament and experienced ones made stronger and bolder, FirstBank and Ikoyi Club 1938 would want to assure all golf enthusiasts that we shall continue to seek and explore new ways of elevating golf and producing even better golfers.  In pursuing this goal, we wish to assist in developing outstanding golfers who are driven by the conviction that champions are not made in the gyms, they are made from something they have deep inside them”.

In his closing remarks, Frank Omene, the Captain of the Ikoyi Golf Club thanked the management of FirstBank for the financial and moral support for the club over the years, adding that he was elated at the high standard of the game and the large turnout of players at this year’s tournament.

Ian Keenan, the European Challenge Tour Golf Professional expressed satisfaction with the quality of play, adding that as an emerging country with limited history of golf compared to the Western countries, the game can only get better. “I am so excited to be here today. This is my first time in Nigeria.

I have played in South Africa, Kenya, Egypt and Morocco, but in all of these countries, I have never seen the same level of energy and the passion as displayed by Nigerian golfers. The sponsorship of the tournament by FirstBank is also a good one.

I understand FirstBank is the biggest Bank in Nigeria. Their support will certainly improve the quality of the game”, he said.

The championship is the longest amateur events in the country. It features the nation’s top amateur players with the ultimate winner being the best gross player on the entire field. Over 120 players from 14 elite clubs across the country entered for the prestigious amateur title this year.