Francis Epe has emerged champion of the eTranzact Golf Classic, defeating about 80 other professional golfers from across Nigeria and other countries.
The event held at Lakowe Golf and Country Estate in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos, over the weekend, had both amateur and professional golfers slugging it out for fun and glory while gathering ranking points on the Professional Golfers Development Tour.
Epe from the Ikoyi Club 1938 Lagos grossed 210 points with a six-under-par score to win the 54-hole tournament, while the trio of Ayisah Anan Lucky of Achimota Golf Club, Ghana, Bako Kamalu of IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja and Mike Ubi of Python Golf Club, Port Harcourt jointly settle for second spot after they all tied on 212 gross score in the 54 holes tournament.
The champion expressed gratitude to eTranzact for sponsoring the tournament and investing in the careers of several professional golf players, describing the platform as one that would help to develop the sport in Nigeria.
For the category one amateurs, Oluremi Olukoya emerged as the winner with Emmanuel Samuel and Oluwatoba Olusegun placing second and third respectively. There were also prizes in the ladies’ category where Funke Oguntonade won for the longest drive, leaving Jummai Abdullahi with the runner-up prize. Jason Kim won for the men’s longest drive.
While presenting the championship trophy to the winner at the closing ceremony, the MD/CEO, eTranzact, Niyi Toluwalope, expressed satisfaction with the quality of competition and high standard of the game on display, promising that the fintech company would be a long-term partner with the golf club.
“We are happy to support professional golfers with an opportunity like this to further develop their game towards excelling at the international level while also providing the business community with the appropriate atmosphere to meet and drive innovations.
“Innovation is the hallmark of the eTranzact brand and it is the essence of our investment in this tournament. I hope that the event has been a fun-filled one for all our guests and contestants. I hope that skills have been learnt, people have met each other, ideas have been shared and collaborations are being initiated,” he said.
He went on to present a giant cheque of 1.5 million naira to the champion with the runners up also receiving cash prizes and other gift items from eTranzact. He also presented several consolation prizes across different categories, explaining that the eTranzact Golf Classic had been designed to ensure that everyone is a winner.
Lakowe Lakes Golf manager, Femi Olagbenro said, although it was the third edition of the competition, their partnership with eTranzact has taken things several steps further. He explained that the game of golf brings togetherness and fosters relationships and collaborations beyond the field, which are the values that resonate with the premium brand like eTranzact.
The eTranzact Classic had N10 million as the total purse for the professionals, while category one amateurs who played along with the professionals had gift vouchers for their effort.
