By Richard Animam
Late Zaria-based professional golfer Ali Abdullahi will definitely be smiling wherever he is. Ali, one of the best professional golfers in Nigeria was looking up to a fantastic season this year, with his attention focussed on Europe and improving on his previous effort in Holland where he competed in the EPDL Tour.

A splendid performance at home and two more outside the shores of Nigeria, seemed to have paved the way for Ali. Some of his friends where happy for Ali, who according to them, has opened the doors for other Nigerian pro golfers in Africa.

While Ali made his plan here, God had another plan for him and if there is an 18 holes golf facility in heaven, Ali would definitely be on the fairway as you read this piece.

Touched by the sudden departure of Abdullahi, IGCC captain Hon. Daniel Mayuku a close of the golfer decided to honour Ali and as you read this, the first winner in the pro event of the Evergreen Pro-Am golf tournament would have emerged.

The maiden edition of the memorial tournament teed off on Thursday featuring over 100 professional golfers from the nooks and crannies of Nigeria as they poured into Asaba to honour one of their own. At the same time, have their eyes of the winner’s prize. The pros played for N2m.

The three days tournament holes out today with amateurs taking the center stage. One thing is certain, Asaba will be a beehive of activities today and to ensure that, that happens, Hon. Mayuku was last week in Ada, Osun State for the Osun Open, an avenue he used to invite Osun governor Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and other prominent amateur golfers to Asaba.

Mayuku is not known to organise anything small, thus expectations are very high as the tourney holes out today. Others who gave their words to be in Asaba are Gen. Patrick Aziza (rtd), Gen. C.K Emein (rtd), Sam Iradia,