Hughes Wins 15th IBB Golf Open Championship

Agib Aubrey Hughes of IBB International Golf and Country Club has emerged overall champion of the 15th IBB Golf Open Championship held at the club golf course. 

The last year runners up played a cumulative gross score of 216 to beat a field of 160 golfers to the top prize of the annual competition organised by Mrs Comfort Folashade Olateju-led lady section of the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja. 

Other results show that in the Boys category 11 to 14 years, Attang Izang of Plateau played 243 gross to lead the race, while Unah Ogoh of Otukpo Golf Club and Destiny Oyero of Ikeja Golf Club played emerged first and second runners up with the gross score of 252 and 253 respectively. 

In the girls category 11 to 14, Zikachat Daniel of Plateau Gold Club won the race with the gross score of 306, while the duo of Josephine Benjamin of IBB Golf Club and Janet Onah of Otukpo Golf Club finished as finished second and third with the gross score of 308 and 314 respectively. 

David Inalegwu of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Golf Club Abuja won the boys category 15 to 18 with the score of 225, followed by Tony Bala and Nandom Danjuma both from Plateau Golf Club. 

It was all Otukpo Golf Club affairs as Grace Agbo emerged winner with 252 score while Blessing Adah and Janet Alli finished 1st and 2nd runner-ups with cumulative gross score of 262 and 273 respectively.

Speaking after receiving the giant trophy and cheque of one thousand dollar prize money, Hughes expressed joy at winning the championship for the first time after finishing second behind last year winner Godwin Okoko. 

“I feel excited and I’m proud of myself. Last year, I was a runners up and I thank my coaches, my parents and my caddy for help me find my way to the top. I also thank the IBB ladies for their efforts because if not for them, I wouldn’t be here,” he said. 

The lady captain of the IBB Golf and Country Club, Mrs Comfort Folashade Olateju, expressed her delight at the successful conclusion of the 2023 IBB Junior Open Championships, saying the future is bright for Nigeria in the game of golf. 

“We thank God, it wasn’t easy at all controlling 160 children and we finally got a winner from IBB International Golf and Country Club. In the history of this championship and for the past 15 years, IBB International Golf and Country Club has never won the competition. But, I’m happy that we were able to break the jinx this year and under my watch as the lady captain. I’m highly overwhelmed,” Olateju said.