Smokin Hills Golf Club’s golden boy, Ojo Tope Ilesanmi, who rose from a caddie to win the 2025 Elizabeth Wuraola Ojo Toyota Golf Tournament over the weekend, has described his feat as a dream come true.

Ilesanmi, who started his golfing career as a caddy before graduating to a full-time amateur player with a handicap of 16, made a gross of 85 and a net of 69 to clinch his first title in the tourney.

Speaking after the tournament, an elated Ilesanmi said:  “I started as a caddy for someone here in this golf course before I started playing as an amateur, and today I am a winner.

“So,  I am very happy and excited to turn my dream into a reality and make it a golden record.”

It was very challenging when I started, and I want to give a big thanks to Mr Muyiwa Adegbenro, handicap 15, who was there for me and kept pushing and encouraging me. Today I am so happy coming from the point of a caddy to become a champion and the reigning amateur champion.”

On his dreams for the future, he said: “I am still going to be there playing from handicap 28 to 16… It’s a gradual journey, and I will get to the top by God’s grace.”

He said that he is contemplating turning professional next year, adding that whatever happens, he would continue to work hard to improve his game.

Apart from Ilesanmi, Ikeja Golf Club’s Opawunmi Afolasade, playing Handicap14, grossed 82 and a net of 68 to win the Ladies category of the tournament, witnessed by Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.

The second place in the men’s category went to Ojuolade Olatunji, handicap 7, who made a gross of 77 and a net of 70, while the third position went to Balogun Ayodeji, handicap 22, with a gross of 92 and a net of 70.

In the Ladies category, Osmond Diana of Ikeja Golf Club, playing handicap 11, grossed 82 with a net of 71 to finish second, just as Alamu Chichi, also of Ikeja Golf Club, with handicap 11, made 82 gross with 71 net for the third position.

The Most Amiable Woman of the tournament award went to Mrs Taiwo Ade-Ojo of Smokin Hills Golf Club, Ilara Mokin, while Adebisi Abdulrasheed of Ikeja Golf Club, with 86 gross and handicap 14, won the Men’s Longest Drive, just as Smokin Hills’ captain, Adegbenro Gboye, won the nearest to the Pin.

Osmond Diana of Ikeja Golf Club won the Ladies Longest Drive contest, while the Nearest to the Pin was won by Oluwadare Aminat of Cross Creek.