Nigerians face Euro Tour star’s challenge, as tourney tees off tomorrow

Nigerians are in for a tough battle with one of Europe’s top players, Alex Rowland, when the annual FirstBank Lagos Amateur Open Championship tees off tomorrow.

The prestigious tournament, scheduled to tee-off on the lush greens of Ikoyi Club 1938, will mark the 55th anniversary of the championship.

Unveiling the programme for this year’s championship on Wednesday, First Bank said one of the key highlights of the tournament would be the participation of Rowland, who will provide hands-on coaching on bunker play, chipping, putting, and full swing among other skills at the open golf coaching clinic.

It revealed: “Alex Rowland, a British golfer and PGA pro started his golf career at Padeswood & Buckley at the age of 11. He was elected to be PGA Captain of Cheshire & North Wales in 2011 and has taken over as PGA North Region Captain for 2016.

“The coaching clinic, which will take place at the practice range of Ikoyi Club Golf Club from 4.00 p.m. daily, is open to children, beginners, novices and golf enthusiasts. In the competitive spirit, there will also be a “BEAT THE PRO CHALLENGE” competition on both days of where the professional players will be challenged in longest drive and closest to the pin shots with Instant prizes awarded to winners.”

FirstBank’s Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney, added that the tournament will also present a golden opportunity for players to take advantage of numerous products offered by the Bank.

“Nurturing talents through this tournament and boosting capacity for experienced ones through this tournament, we assure all golf enthusiasts that we will continue to seek and explore new ways of elevating golf and producing even better golfers,” Ani-Mumuney added.

She also disclosed that FirstBank has enhanced the value and content in the 55th edition of the championship for increased engagements, more fun offline and a highly interactive and specialised golf clinic for golfers and golf enthusiasts.

The Championship, which is a 36-hole event to be played over two days, kicks off today with practice rounds on the golf course and a welcome cocktail reception in the evening.

The first round will tee-off by 6.30 a.m. tomorrow, followed by other activities like the professional coaching clinic, and “Longest Drive Beat the Pro Challenge” competition.  

On Sunday, guest players would be invited to participate in the tournament followed by the final round of the Championship. “The grand finale and awards dinner will take place in the evening, capping off the Championship. The annual tournament is open to all amateur golfers who are members of a registered Golf Club with handicap of 14 or below. More information on the championship is available on www.firstbanknigeria.com/golf,” she added.

The tournament, which made its debut 55 years ago, is the foremost golf tournament in the country and will attract elite golf clubs from Ikeja, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Ilorin, Aba, Benin, Kano, Kaduna, Calabar and Ekiti. The tournament will also be a platform for over 260 guest players to network and hone their golfing skills.