The 25th IBB International Golf and Country Club Ladies Open Championship’s trophy is up for grabs as the event officially teed off yesterday amid funfair excitement.
No fewer than 200 amateur and professional lady golfers drawn from various clubs across the country and foreign nationals such as Ugandans, Ghanaians and Koreans will swing for laurels during the three days event.
Unveiling the programme of the competition to the press, yesterday, before the tournament’s ceremonial tee off, the lady captain of the IBB Golf Club, Mrs Folasade Olateju, said aside the opportunity for participants to compete with some of the best golfers across the country and beyond, the competition is a celebration of women in sports, testament to the enduring spirit and platform for camaraderies and friendship to flourish.
While expressing profound gratitude to the club executive, sponsors and volunteers for their unwavering support, Olateju enjoined participants to compete with dignity, saying: “As we embark on this journey over the next few days, let us remember the values that define the essence of golf – integrity, respect and perseverance.
“Let us compete fiercely yet gracefully, acknowledging that victory is not solely measured by scores but by the bonds forged and the memories created. I wish all the participants the very best of luck, and may this tournament be a testament to the enduring legacy of women in golf , inspiring generations to come.”
The coordinator of the championship, Pastor Anne Abimiku, while giving more details about the tournament, said the 25th IBB Ladies Open is quite unique and filled with fun than any previous editions before it.
According to her, aside from the fact that the competition holds the key to the aspirations of many amateur golfers to get enlisted on the World Handicap System (WHS), female golf professionals are also competing for the first time in the tournament, with two million naira (N2, 000, 000) up for grabs.
“The annual IBB Ladies Open Championship is the high point of every Lady Captain’s tenure and I am very pleased about the high number of lady golfers who have registered to play at the tournament this year. This is the first time we are having 200 ladies registered to participate.
“We are also using the World Handicap System (WHS) rankings, designed to give all golfers a handicap ecosystem around the globe. And for the first time, we had female golf professionals play for over two days in which Rachael Danjuma emerged champion.
“A total of 14 female professionals participated and it shows that we are making good progress,” Pastor Abimiku said.
