Evelyn Oyome triumphed in remarkable fashion on Sunday as she secured her third consecutive victory at the IBB Ladies Golf Open 2025.
The championship, now in its 26th edition and held at the IBB International Golf and Country Club in Abuja from 13 to 16 February, attracted over 400 golfers from 50 clubs across Nigeria and five other African countries, underscoring its significance in the golfing calendar.
Oyome, a distinguished amateur golfer from Ikoyi Club, overcame intense competition from 18-year-old Grace Agbo and Diana Osmond on the final, scoring accumulative 248 gross over three rounds of 82, 79, and 87 to successfully defended her title, having won the event in 2023 and 2024 respectively.
She expressed delight upon clinching the title again, saying: “Winning this tournament, especially the 26th edition, is absolutely fantastic. I also celebrate this success with my country, Nigeria,” she remarked following her win.
She credited her caddie for his exceptional support, stating that: “He motivated me throughout the game. His encouragement helped me maintain my focus, especially when I faced challenges with my putting.”
Despite the difficult conditions posed by the intense heat on the final day, Oyome maintained that her main competition was the course itself. She recounted, “The first day was a mixture of good and bad, but day two truly turned my performance around.”
The tournament’s prizes included a return ticket to London for Oyome; Agbo, who finished as the runner-up in the handicap 0 to 18 category with a total gross score of 252, won a return ticket to Uyo and a weekend at the Ibom Golf Resort, courtesy of deestravels. Osmond also received a return ticket to Uyo for her efforts.
In the Ladies Professional category, which offered a prize pool of $5,000, Nigeria’s Rachael Danjuma emerged as the winner, taking home a cash prize of $1,300. Uganda’s Eva Magala and Nigeria’s Uloma Ogbuokiri received the runner-up and second runner-up prizes of $900 and $700 respectively.
The winners across other categories included J. Umolu in the Ladies Special Category, J. Kpamor in the Veteran Ladies category, and G. Omisore in the Super Veteran category.
In men’s competitions, P. Chidolue topped the gross category, while K.K. Yusuf and U. Abubakar claimed victories in the nett categories.
Lady Captain Dame Julie Donli, OON, described the tournament as a resounding success and the largest Ladies Open in the club’s history. “This event has brought together over 450 golfers from various parts of Nigeria and beyond. We have hosted the largest Ladies Open recorded anywhere in the world,” she stated.
Donli attributed the event’s success to meticulous planning and the dedication of her committee, noting, “We began preparations over six months ago, ensuring every detail was addressed.”
The 2025 IBB Ladies Open has undoubtedly strengthened its reputation as a premier golfing event in Africa, showcasing both emerging talent and seasoned professionals.
