Awa Ibraheem to continue sponsoring Junior Open Championship

Competition now for players from age five to 16 years

Sponsor of the just-concluded Third Awa Ibraheem Junior Open Championship, Alhaji Awa Ibraheem, has agreed to continue bankrolling the competition beyond the three-year agreement he had with the Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF).

Ibraheem, who is the Chief Executive Officer of ICMA, announced his decision to continue sponsoring the championship during the closing ceremony of the third edition of the event held at the Ikeja Golf Club, Lagos, from October 20 to 22.

He said, “I have decided to extend the sponsorship of this championship, because of my love for kids’ development,” adding that his decision was also influenced by the NGF and other stakeholders in the game.

But for the tournament to achieve its aim, which is to discover and train young players from their cradle, Alhaji Ibraheem said the championship will now feature players from age five to 16, instead of from age five to 18, as is currently the case.

He added: “For the tournament to reflect the desired target and achieve its purpose, the age limit will now be 16 and not 18 anymore.”

More than 170 children from across the country, as well as children from Ghana, participated in the three-day tournament, at the end of which eight players, four boys and four girls, got scholarship to complete their education.

Among the winners at the 18-hole event was Lucky Onjefu of Otukpo, who won the age 16 to 18 category (boys) with a gross score of 161.

In the girls’ category of age 16 to 18, Blessing Abdul also of David Mark Academy garnered 186 gross to win the for the first time.

Defending champion in the age 13 to 15 category (18 holes), Odey Alechenu, also of of David Mark Academy, retained the title with a gross of 164, just as his female counterpart, Victoria Atama, also won with a gross of 193.

The championship was not all about David Mark Academy, as Ikoyi Club kids also had their day in the sun. Ikoyi Club’s Osiregbeme Egbakhumeh won the boys’ age 10 to 12 category with a gross score of 86 points, playing nine holes in two days, Egbakhume garnered 86 gross to lift the trophy, while Iyenebong Essien of IBB Club, Abuja, won the girls category with a gross of 103.

The infant category (age nine) saw Weng Davou from Jos victorious in the boys’ cadre with a gross score of 41 from four holes in two days, while Naisha Nandal of Ikoyi Club won the girls’ category with 46 gross.