Former Group Managing Director, NNPC, Mr. Austin Oniwon, (L) with Senator John Shagaya, at the Northern Regional Qualifiers of the MTN World Golfers Championship held in Abuja last Saturday
MTN WGC GOLF
Wilfred Shagba has emerged winner of the northern regional qualifiers held at the IBB International Golf Course and Country Club, Abuja on Saturday after returning with 88 gross score, handicap 21 and 67 net score in category 5 (handicap 21 – 25); ahead of the national finals of the MTN World Golfers Championship billed to hold in Akwa Ibom in September. Ashagba produced the best score in the championship.
The golfer automatically won himself a Blackberry Bold handset courtesy of MTN Nigeria Limited for his feat in the competition. T. Eben-Spiff emerged runner up with 95 gross score, handicap 23, 72 net score while S. Okwuokwei came third in the category with 96 gross score, handicap 22, 74 net score.
In category 4, handicap 16-20; J Malouf polled 85 gross score, handicap 16, 69 net score to win that category while I. Okaisabor emerged runner-up with 87 gross score, handicap 18, 69 net and W. Reng emerged second runner up with 89 gross score, handicap 20, 69 net score.
F. Brimmo also won the category 3, handicap 11-15, polling 82 gross, handicap 12, 70 net score while A. Shaiyen placed second with 89 gross score, handicap 15, 74 net score. In category 2, handicap 6-10, Sam Galadima emerged winner with 79 gross score, handicap 8, 71 net while Mohammed Suleiman emerged runner up, polling 80 gross score, handicap 8, 72 net score. E. Okatta won the trophy in category 1, handicap 0-5, returning with 76 gross score, handicap 4, 72 net while S. Baloni came second with 80 gross score, handicap 4, 76 net.
All the winners of the five categories will lead others, totaling 25 players, to play in the National Finals slated for Akwa Ibom in September.
An elated winner of the category 2 (handicap 6-10); Sam Galadima showered encomiums on MTN for sponsoring the event. “MTN is doing a fantastic job and I would say it has been good so far. If not because of MTN, golf would have been dead by now in Nigeria.”
Chairman, Global Golf Limited, organisers of the competition, Rasaq Ayinde Sani, praised MTN for supporting the competition.
Winners of each of the five categories will be campaigning for Nigeria in the global event slated for South Africa later in the year.