Over 200 amateurs, 13 pros listed as FirstBank Lagos Open tees off Nov 18

The Golf Section of Ikoyi Club 1938 is primed for the best of golf as some of the best players from across the world join their African counterparts to battle for honours at the 63rd Lagos Amateur Open Golf Championship, which tees off at the club on November 18.

The competition is a 64-hole championship featuring over 200 players, while 13 professionals, who are mostly past winners of the amateur event, will vie for a N5 million purse courtesy of the sponsors.

According to officials of the club, online registration for the championship began on Monday, but the event will tee off with a new category christened ‘Search for Stars,’ which is aimed at empowering caddies and getting newcomers to the game.

Among the stars expected to participate in the competition is Isaac Umoru of St. Marks Golf & Country Club, Otukpo, Benue State, who is the tournament’s defending champion.

Speaking ahead of the competition, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of FirstBank of Nigeria Limited, Olusegun Alebiosu, represented by Chief Financial Officer, Patrick Iyamabo, thanked the Ikoyi Club 1938 for its partnerships over the past 63 years, saying, the relationship has been worth the while. “We have enjoyed partnering on this remarkable initiative for 63 years and counting,” he said.

Alebiosu said that the bank has additionally provided a steady platform to attract the best amateur golfers both locally and internationally, an initiative the financial institution will continue to pursue.

“The FirstBank Lagos Amateur Open Golf Championship is one of FirstBank’s most prominent sponsorships under the First@sports initiative through which the bank demonstrates its unwavering commitment to the development of sporting talents in Nigeria and globally.

“For over 130 years, FirstBank has been a driving force in the promotion of sports in Nigeria and across the bank’s subsidiaries all over the world. This has been accentuated by our legacy sponsorships of tournaments such as the Kaduna Polo tournament, currently in its 104th year of sponsorship, golf, tennis, football, and basketball, amongst others.

“FirstBank’s partnership and long-standing sponsorship of the FirstBank Lagos Amateur Open Golf Championship is therefore one of the ways by which we demonstrate our commitment to building a legacy not only for golf and golfers, but sports in its entirety,” Alebiosu said.