Your entry must reach us today, NGF tells participants

The Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF) has reminded clubs and players interested in participating at the Third Awa Ibraheem Junior Golf Open Championship that their entries must reach the federation today.

The competition, which is for players from age five to 18, will tee off on October 20 at the Ikeja Golf Club.

NGF Youth Development Officer, Emy Ekong, said it was necessary that the participants indicated their interest in the competition early to allow them prepare adequately for it.

Ekong reminded intending participants that the players would get free accommodation, free meals and free entry.

She said that the Caddy fee of N1000 per day is optional, adding that the participants are expected to arrive the venue on October 20.

The competition, which will end on October 22, according to the organisers, is open to all Nigerian junior players, who will be accommodated and fed for the duration of the event.

Ekong affirmed that the competition offers two years school scholarships for each of the winners in the four boys and girls’ categories.

The categories are nine and under; 10 to 12; 13 to 15; and 16 to 18.

She disclosed that the event would serve as one of the qualifiers for the All Africa Junior Championship for boys and girls scheduled for March 2017 in Zimbabwe.

According to Ekong, the players are expected to arrive for the competition on October 20 and do their registration on the same day.

Stroke play competition will hold on October 21 and 22, with the closing ceremony scheduled for the same day.

She disclosed that apart from the competition, there will be a golf clinic and workshop sponsored by the Lagos State Sports Commission in collaboration with the NGF.

Dignitaries expected at the event include Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Sports, Chris Ohaa, Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Secretary General, Tunde Popoola, Special Adviser to Lagos Governor on Sports, Deji Tinubu and Director General, Lagos Sports Commission, Adewunmi Ogunsanya.

Ekong disclosed that the tournament had helped to get more boys and girls introduced to golf and would ultimately prevent them from engaging in vices.

She added that the tournament, tied to the birthday celebration of Mr. Awa Ibraheem, is an annual event, which aim is to “develop these children and create awareness of the game in them.

“You know people like us started very late but if you introduce it early to the life of children, I think we will have better players just like Tiger Woods.

“Some of them can take it up as a profession in the future,’’ she said.

She urged parents to encourage their children to participate in sports alongside their education, noting that children involved in sports had little time to engage in crime and other vices.