Hard work, perseverance key to my eTranzact Classic success, says Epe

Ikoyi Club 1938 professional golfer, Francis Epe, who at the weekend, beat the field to win the maiden eTranzact Golf Classic, has attributed his recent achievements in the Professional Golf Development Tour to hard work and perseverance in the face of challenges.

The eTranzact Golf Classic, the third event on the Professional Golf Developmental Tour, was held at Lakowe Golf and Country Estate in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos.

Epe, the only professional player to shoot scores below par in the three consecutive rounds that decided event, ended with a total of 210, six under par to pick the winner’s N1.5 million at the 54-hole championship.

Epe’s six-under-par score was followed by a three-way tie for second place at 212, after 54 holes by Ayisa Lucky from Ghana, Mike Ubi from Python Golf Club, Port Harcourt and Kamalu Bako of IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja.

With the victory, Epe, who has won two of the three events on the PGD Tour, has also established himself as the number one player on the Tour with a detailed ranking due to being released during the week.

“I am very happy to be in this place. Winning these titles, especially the eTranzact prize, has been a tough one, which took hard work. The last round was very challenging, but I thank God I was able to pull the victory off,” he said.

Speaking on the competition, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of eTranzact, Niyi Toluwalope, commended the talent displayed by Epe and the over 100 players from different West African nations, saying that the event has come to stay.

“This is our way of investing resources in the teeming youth demography and golf is particular for us because of the potential it portends in building the character of integrity and discipline. Again, as a sporting nation, we believe golf is under-exposed and the eTranzact Classic is one platform that we believe will help Nigerian golf talents get the required exposure on the global stage through the PGD Tour,” he said.

The eTranzact Classic had a N10m purse for the professionals, while category one amateurs, who played alongside the professionals, had gift vouchers for their effort.

Remi Olukoya, Emmanuel Samuel and Oluwatoba Olusegun picked the top-three honours for category one at the event in succession.

Funke Oguntonade, spotting handicap 25, returned 74 net to shine brightest in the Ladies’ category, leaving 10-handicapper, Jummai Abdullahi, with the runner-up prize.

The guest amateur players at the event had Vitus Ezenwa, with nine-handicap, as winner, while Lanre Shagay and Yemi Ajibola picked the second and third place honours respectively.