From Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
Nigeria’s lady golfers placed ninth at the 16-nation All Africa Challenge Trophy held in Tunisia. South Africa won the 54 holes event played at Citrus Golf Club, Hamammet, while Morocco finished in second place ahead of Tunisia.
It was Nigeria’s best outing since they placed 13th in 2010 when the event was held in Abuja. The team made up of Evelyn Oyome from Ibadan Golf Club, Amina Wilfred from IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja and youth prodigy, Anita Uwadia, shot the combined score of 524 in difficult conditions with prevailing temperature as low as 0 degree Celsius and wind at 35-40 km per hour.
Uwadia contributed 246 while Wilfred played 278. Though Oyome returned 301, it never tallied as only the best two scores per team counted.
The team which was managed by Mrs Ekanem Ekwueme, the 1st Vice President Northern Zone, Ladies Golfers Association of Nigeria (LGAN) was accompanied by six travelling supporters, including the treasurer, Mrs. Funke Majekodunmi and PRO, Queen Asanobi.
Ekwueme said that apart from unfavourable weather, the morale of the team was dampened by the demise of LGAN President, Mrs Tima Animashaun, before the team left for Tunisia.
Eight-handicapper, Wilfred, who played at the AACT in Abuja in 2010 and Botswana two years later, said the team could have fared better if they had enough time to prepare or get used to the course.
“We trained for only one day which obviously wasn’t enough . The course is very challenging and has water as its feature. We struggled against rain and wind. Also on hole 2, a par 5, I played 10 down, though I birdied the same hole on the first two days. It was that bad,” Wilfred said.
