Pedro, Olopade, Korblah 36 others battle for winner-takes-all N3m prize

Sanwo-Olu to perform ceremonial tee-off
U.S.-based emerging golf star, Tokunbo Pedro, Nigeria’s number one player, Sunday Olopade and Ghana’s top golfer, Amos Korblah are among 39 stars confirmed for the winner-takes-all Ultimate Golf Challenge billed for Ikoyi Club’s Golf Section tomorrow.

The one-day 39-hold tournament guarantees the winner N3 million, among other exciting prizes.
Pedro is Nigeria’s youngest prospect, who plays on the U.S Tour, while Amos Korblah, a serial winner in the West Africa circuit, is a prominent figure in the Nigerian golf scene.

Speaking on the tournament, which draws top professionals from across the country, as well as in West Africa, Grand Patron of the Ultimate Golf Challenge, Otunba Femi Pedro, promised that the 2022 competition will be bigger and better than the first two editions, adding that it is the only one of its kind where professionals are brought to play 36 holes in one day with the winner taking all the money.

“It not only tests the mind, it also test the players’ perseverance and doggedness in one day.
“We started the tournament in 2019 to promote professional golf in Nigeria. In the last edition the winner got N2 million, but this year, the prize has risen to N3 million.

“For the first time in the competition, we have N200, 000 and N150, 000 consolation prizes for the second and third placed players respectively, while there are N1 million each for the nearest to the pin, best player from Ikoyi Club and best player out of Ikoyi Club and the best golfer from outside Nigeria.

“Each player will also receive an appearance fee of N150, 000,” he said.
Pedro, a former deputy governor of Lagos, said the organisers’ target is to increase the prize money such that players from across the world would be enticed to feature in the competition.

“We want to encourage corporate Nigeria to support this competition so that we can increase the prize money in the next edition to N5 million. As I said earlier, the essence of the competition is to promote golf in Nigeria and we need more people and organisations to key into the project,” he added.

He listed the sponsors of the competition to include Polaris Bank, Casava Micro finance bank, Mactay, Megamond and a golf group called JAMZ, among others.

Also speaking on the competition, Chairman, Local Organising Committee, Akin Semowo, disclosed that the competition will tee off by 6.00 a.m., and end around 4.00 p.m., adding that golf enthusiasts and other sports fans are invited to come and follow the players’ progress from the tee off to the end of the competition.

“We have food, drinks and other forms of entertainment for everybody. The amount mentioned as consolation prizes may change upwards because we have been getting enquiries from people, who want to support the tournament.

“We are expecting Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to perform the ceremonial tee off on Thursday and we pray that what happened the last time will happen again this year.”