Golf Devt: Adeleke Lauds IBB Golf Club As Zulaiha Wins 23rd Ladies Close Tourney

The 2023 IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja, Ladies Close Golf Championship came to an exceptionally grand and eventful end with Zulaiha Baba Ahmed emerged the overall winner.

Zulaiha,an architect, rounded up the two days event with a cumulative score of 236 gross and netted 148 to outplay the field of over 200 rivals to emerge the IBB IGCC champion for the year 2023.

She described her success as amazing. “I started playing two years ago. For this championship, my intention was just to play the game and enjoy myself. But when the game started, on the first day, I saw myself among the leaders. At the beginning I was not doing well but later I was just swinging well. I was surprised that I emerged the overall winner,” she said.

Zulaiha went home with a prestigious trophy and a return ticket from Abuja to any state in Nigeria.

In the category Handicap one to 28, past lady captain, Grace Ihonvbere, a handicap 24 golfer, grossed 173 and netted 149 to lead the pack while BK Sunita won the Handicap 29 to 54 category

Former Kogi State first Lady, Halima Wada emerged winner of the Ladies Veteran, while Senator Nkechi Nwaogu won the Ladies Super Veteran.

Among the 80 Men who played as guests were former speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara who won the Nearest to the pin prize.

Closing the event, Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke, commended the IBB International Golf and Country Club for its leading role in the development of the golf in Nigeria.

He said Nigeria should not take a back seat as far as the game is concerned as it can help the country’s economy through earning of foreign currency by visiting players.

While saluting the governor, for honoring their invitation, chairman, IBB International Golf and Country Club Board of Trustees, General (Rtd) IBM Haruna offered Senator Adeleke, a full membership of the club.

Lady captain, Folashade Olateju, described this year’s event as memorable particularly the presence of personalities who competed during the day and those who graced the presentation of Trophies in the night.