*100 golfers to storm Ilorin for ‘October Fest’
Kunle Adewale in Lagos and Hammed Shittu in Ilorin
It was jubilation all through the golf section of Ikoyi Club on Monday as the 2016 Nigeria Cup Committee offers to sponsor Adesanya Ganiyu for professional trainee programme for emerging the best among over 150 others who took part in the caddie event in the ongoing 20th edition of the Nigeria Cup. The offer was the first of its kind in the history of the competition.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Caddies’ event on Monday, Chairman 2016 Organising Committee, Bayo Alli, said; “The idea was to encourage the boys and show them that there is always reward for hard work. We believe that the gesture will go a long way to helping the caddie get more serious in whatever they do.
“We are doing this to show that we support the caddies, we appreciate the role they play in the golfing community and we will continue to support and encourage them’, Bayo Alli, said
Adesanya grossed 84-over 18-holes to come tops in the caddies’ event.
The Nigeria Independence Anniversary celebration continues at the golf section with a special independence kitty today while the pros will take their turn on the course on Thursday.
The tournament is a Pro-Am and will feature professional golfers playing alongside their amateur counterpart.
On Friday, September 30, it will be the turn of guests and veteran golfers while Saturday, October 1st is the grand finale.
Expected on the course are golfers who scaled through the tournament pre-qualifiers.
Sunday October 2, is the day winners of the week-long competitions would be given their trophies and prizes at a gala night billed to hold at the golf section of Ikoyi Club 1938.
Meanwhile, about 100 golfers across the 36 states of the federation have concluded arrangements to storm Ilorin Golf Club from Friday Sept. 30, for a one-day 18 holes tournament tagged ‘October Fest.’
The club’s Captain, Mr. Layi Maliki, who spoke with journalists in Ilorin yesterday on the level of the preparations for the tournament said that, the competition is part of activities to mark the country’s 56th Independence Anniversary.
He listed golfers from Mic-Com Golf and Country Club, Ada, Kadariko Golf Club Kainji, Minna Cantonment Golf Club, Ibadan Golf Club and Ogbomoso Recreation Club amongst those to compete for honours in the invitational competition.
Maliki explained that the competition will have players compete for honours in different categories in the amateur rank while the professionals have handsome prize money at stake for them.
The Ilorin Club captain added that event will tee off with a welcome cocktail party for participants on Friday at 7:00 p.m while golfers will take to course on Saturday, Oct. 1,starting from 7:00a.m. He disclosed that the club’s Hole One will be rededicated to late Dr. Olusola Saraki.
The captain said the aim is to make the competition an annual event while thanking individuals and corporate bodies for sponsoring the competition.
According to him, the competition is put together by Lanre Sagaya, Asiwaju Tunde Badmus, Kwara State Bureau of Lands, Kwara ALGON, Sterling Bank and Peace Pharmaceutical company. The event will climax with a gala night at the club’s ultra- modern club house later in the evening.
