Ikeja Club agog, as 170 children battle to dethrone Chiemere

Isife Chiemere’s rule as the best junior golfer in the country is under scrutiny at the Ikeja Golf Club, where over 170 children have gathered to vie for honours. It is the second Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF) Awa Ibraheem Championship, which features the cream of the country’s junior players in a two-day competition at the luxurious golf course.

The 36-hole competition will hold from October 16 to 18, with the junior players expected to arrive and register for the event today.

According to NGF’s Youth Development Director, Emy Ekong, more than 170 children have indicated their interest in featuring in the competition, which will hold on Saturday and Sunday.

This is against the 125 junior players that featured in the first edition.

Chiemere of Enugu Golf Club and Diana of Ikoyi Golf Club are expected to defend their titles against a cast that also includes players from Oturkpo Golf Club, Navy Pathfinder of Port Harcourt, Sapele Club, Rosani, Ekiti and Jos Police College.

Some of the contenders in the boys’ category are Samuel Ochigbo, Odey Alechenu and Olalere Olasewa, while the top girls in contention are Blessing Wilson from Jos, Chinwe Obuaya from Delta and Helen Alechenu from Otukpo.

17-year-old Chiemere, who also won the National Junior Championship in Oturkpo last month, is the player to beat in the competition sponsored by Dr. Awa Ibraheem to commemorate his birthday.

According to Ekong, Dr. Awa Ibraheem’s support for golf development in Nigeria has seen him giving scholarship to excellent players at the yearly competition. “Last year, he gave two years school scholarships to winners. This year the children are eagerly looking forward to what he has in store for them.

“One of the beneficiaries of his scholarship is nine-year-old Mohammed from Jos Police College, who cannot stop thanking him for the gesture.

“Mohammed looks forward to attending this year’s event, which is a two-day stroke play open to children from17 years and below,” Ekong said.

She revealed that the director general of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Alhassan Yakmut, will be the special guest of honour on the award giving day, just as the new NGF president, Nazifi Mohammed, will be making his maiden appearance at the club for the first in his new capacity.