Cross River State governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has showered praises on Nyoki Ita for honouring his late father, Pastor Ekpenyong Ita, with a memorial golf kitty that attracted golfers and sympathisers across the country.
The governor, who teed off the 18 holes golf tournament, described late Pastor Ekpenyong Ita as a great man who has positively touched and impacted the lives of many, stating that the unveiling of hole 5 at the Calabar Golf Club with a memorial ‘Golf kitty’ was a great honour to the departed man of God.
Governor Otu who was represented by the commissioner for sports, Mrs Agnes Atsu, used the occasion to assure members of the Calabar Golf Club of the his plan to change the fortune of the club in no distant time.
Earlier, the captain of the Calabar Golf Club, Major General A M Sabo, lauded Nyoki Ita, who is also a member of the club, for not only acquiring hole 5 of the Calabar Golf Course in memory of his late father but also for introducing golfing into his burial ceremony.
Nyoki Ita described his late father as a pace setter and a great man of God, and thanked all his friends and golfers who came for the burial of his late father.
He disclosed that the late Pastor Ekpenyong Ita Memorial Golf kitty which made it’s first debut last Saturday in Càlabar will be an annual event.
At the end of the maiden Pastor Ekpeyong Ita Memorial Golf kitty, Sam Kalio emerged the over all winner with a nett score of 72 on Count back.
Raymond Ovat finished as the runner up with a score of 72 nett while the Secretary of the Club, Samson Onah was placed third.
In the veteran category, Col Pam Ogar (Rtd) sent shocked waves down the spines of other highly rated golfers to emerge champion with a nett score of 81. Paul Ebiala with a nett score of 85 became the runner up.
The ladies winner was Esther Eyo who garnered 79 nett while Gladness Dan emerges runners up with 91 nett.
Highlights of the event included presentation of prizes to those who excelled.
