Nigeria’s best junior stars will gather at the Ikeja Golf Club this weekend to fight for world ranking points and other prizes available at the sixth AWA Ibraheem Junior Golf Championship. The competition, which has been endorsed by the global body, R & A, will hold from Thursday to Saturday.
Coming to test their skills at the three-day championship are ninety players picked based on the National Order of Merit and screened by the technical department of the Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF).
The sponsor, President, Trustees of Ikeja Golf Club and former Captain of the host club, AWA Ibraheem, says his passion to grow the game is well focused on the development of junior golf.
“There is quite a number of shaping that can be done to young athletes at this age. Apart from honing their skills, sustaining their interest, I also use this platform to offer the exceptional players scholarship and encourage them to go to school or remain in school. I believe we will have well-rounded players when they do so. This will also preserve the heritage of the game”
The first day of the event has been reserved as the arrival and official practice day, while the last two days are for main golf action where junior players will file out in different age grade categories for honour.
NGF’s Director of Women & Youth Development, Ms. Emy Ekong said officials of the federation were involved in the event from the planning stage to ensure the international standards were met.
According to Ekong added: “We have players that will compete in U-9, U-12, U-15 and U-17 categories. This event is key on the calendar of the Federation, because of its importance and level of commitments of the team that puts it together.
“The World Ranking status of the event is also another point that confirms the quality of play at the event and organization that has been observed globally.”
So far, entries for the 54-hole event cover major golf clubs in the country, including the Golf Section of Ikoyi Club 1938 in Lagos; Ibadan Golf Club; IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja; Rosani Golf Club, Ekiti; Lamingo and Rayfield Golf Clubs in Jos; Otukpo Golf Club; Ibom Golf Club; Abeokuta Golf Club; Ibori Golf and Country Club, Asaba; Port Harcourt Golf Club; Yola; Enugu and Bauchi, among others.
