High-profile Nigerians including the immediate-past Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor (rtd); former Corps Marshal of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Boboye Oyeyemi; chairman of board of trustees, IBB International Golf and Country Club, General I.M. Haruna (rtd), and other amateur golfers, on Saturday, teed off Captain Banjo Obaleye’s Inaugural Tournament in Abuja.
No fewer than 400 golfers from across the country and beyond were competing for various prizes at stake in the inaugural tournament holding on the 18-hole golf course of the prestigious IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja, to symbolise the commencement of Banjo Obaleye’s reign as Captain of the Club.
Speaking to journalists shortly after teeing off his game, General I.M. Haruna (rtd) said the event, which was in line with tradition, was put together signalling Captain Banjo Obaleye on the saddle as the captain of an international golf club.
He said the management and entire members of the IBB International Golf and Country Club were banking on his experience to lead the club to a new height.
“We have elected him to captain the club this year and this is his inaugural tournament to put him on the saddle as captain of an international golf club with all its attachment – the lady section, tennis section and so on.
“He is a very experienced golfer, very innovative and we are expecting a lot from him to lead the club well and to a new height,” the Club BoT chairman stated.
On his part, the immediate-past CDS, General Lucky Irabor (rtd), described the tournament as a cherished moment for golfers, saying it was an opportunity to network and make friendship.
“Captain Banjo Obaleye is a friend, he encouraged me to be a member of this great club and I have personal passion for our friendship.
“For what is happening today, the Captain Obaleye’s inaugural tournament is a cherished moment for us as golfers and participants because it brings golfers from across the country and beyond to network and make friendship. So, I’m glad to be here and be part of the tournament.
“It’s a 72-hole tournament that will be played for two days and two rounds with a cut at the end of the first day.
“So if you haven’t played well enough to pass through to the second day, then you are cut from the field which minimises the field on the second day.
“That is fairly normal in this type of format and it makes it more competitive because everybody on the first day has to be on top of their game.
“Conditions at the moment means that the scores may be slightly higher than normal because of the rains; so, there is going to be real test of skill,’’ Gen. Irabor stated.
