Eben-Spiff, Coker, Chu are winners at Lakowe Club Championship

Three handicappers, Peter Eben-Spiff has emerged 2019 Lakowe Lakes Golf Club Champion, shooting the best gross score of 147, three over course par in the two-day championship hosted over the weekend in Lagos.

The event also crowned Fatumata Coker and Kim Tai Chu in the ladies and veterans’ categories respectively.

“I have not been in a good frame of mind of late because of some personal setbacks off the course; hence I believe that this victory today has some divine inclination. It wasn’t me that played in the last two days.

“I guess I had a good set of players to partner in the two rounds. I just followed their trail. When they parred, I did the same, and here we are. I dedicate this honour to God, them and my ailing dad who taught me golf from my childhood,” Peter said after the event.

He had led the opening round of the event with 75, three over par, only to crown it with a brilliant 72, level par in the closing round of the event.

Elliot Campbel, the Director of Golf at Lakowe Lakes Golf Estate, says the facility keeps maturing and the club championship has come to be the prime event that every member of the club looks forward to.

“The green is in its best shape ever, and the experience of playing the Lakowe Lakes is still unrivaled. As a team, we have worked hard to keep this facility in the best shape it can be and this is part of what stands it our as the best in its class in West Africa.

“We are determined to keep growing the value of the course by developing all other facilities around it in the coming years,” he said.

Eben-Spiff’s score was eight shots better than Tunji Adebayo, a former champion, who settled for the runner-up place, while Koebbe Douglas placed third with his 162 gross score.

In the lady’s class, Fatumata Coker won with 170 gross, brushing aside Njide Ndili to the second place with seven strokes advantage.

According to Mrs. Coker, “This win means a lot to me and I am sure my husband would be very happy to learn that I won it because of the subscription waiver for next year that comes with it. I think that is a very innovative idea by the management of the course.”

Kim Tai Chu also makes history as the only Veteran to have won the category at the Club Championship for three years in a row. He retained his win with 160 gross-score over David Adams, who trailed him with four shots.

Other winners at the 2019 Lakowe Golf Club’s Club Championship include Emmanuel Orizu, the veteran’s net winner. Oyenike Aworanti also nicked the lady’s prize, while Remi Edu was the men’s winner in that category.

Speaking on the event, Femi Olagbenro, the Head Professional, said this year’s entry for the club’s championship has been the biggest, adding that it connotes the rising interest in the game and also an endorsement for the culture of fun and excellence at the club.

“Golf in Lakowe is a different experience and a lot of golfers have come to terms with the unique way golf experience is delivered here; that is why we have a growing community of players here,” he said.