Nigerian golfers

By Olawale Ajimotokan

The annual Total Nigeria golf tournament will be staged next month in Abuja with the upstream oil company directing its focus in using golf to promote charity causes, THISDAY has gathered on authority.

The event which usually comes up at the tail end of the year is designed to be a rallying theme for the staff, associates of the company and veteran golfers to come together and savour the ancient game over 18-hole at the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja.

A source at the company hinted THISDAY that the oil producing company in line with its corporate social responsibility orientation, intends to use this year’s golf tournament to give to charity homes and other causes.

The 15th edition held last year had a robust turn out of a field of 144 golfers.

On that particular occasion, there was fun and time management as the playing format adopted, the shotgun format, reduced slow play and time spent on the tee to the barest minimum because all players teed off at the same time.

In addition, as part of the innovations of the last edition, considered by those who featured as one of the best organized Total golf tournaments, the 47 veteran golfers that participated got special prizes.

Ade Young, with a 15- handicap, shot a nett score of 68 to claim the men’s prize, while Antonia Maduakor, presently representing Nigeria in Durban, South Africa at the World Golfers Championship, won in the ladies’ version with 73 nett, 13-shot well ahead of Amina Wilfred.