By Victor Okoye
Evelyn Oyome of Ikoyi Club 1938 on Sunday emerged the champion of the 24th IBB Ladies Open in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oyome scored a total gross of 247 over the course of the three-day tournament to claim the 2023 championship’s top prize.
After 36 holes of golf (two days 28 per day), the top 45 players made the cut and had the privilege to play on the final day of the championship.
Oyome, a seasoned competitor, took the lead after day two and qualified in pole position leading with 4 shots.
She played fantastic golf to take the lead from Eva Magala of Uganda as the battle for the championship’s top prize when down to the wire on the final day.
The last flight teed off at about 9 a.m. on Sunday and finished at about 1.30 p.m. was a pulsating encounter between Nigeria and Uganda as the tournament beckoned for a new Ladies Open Champion.
“I actually came in to participate as being one of the qualifiers, fortunately I found myself in this position.
“On day two, I just made up my mind as I started from the front nine and I told myself I needed to play much better so I can be able to make it up at the back nine.
“Fortunately, I started with a par and had an incredible birdie on the second hole and I told myself it was my day.
“Regardless of what others were playing, I made up my mind that I needed to defeat this course. So, when I came out and saw I was the one leading, I was so happy and poised to give it my best on the final day.
“Fortunately, my best was just enough and I never put a foot wrong as I was determined that the trophy was no longer going to Uganda.
“I am happy to have made Nigeria proud and I want to express my sincere gratitude to IBB Golf Club, the Lady Captain and her executive committee as well as the Captain and board of trustees of the club for giving us the privilege to come once again to play this beautiful round of Golf.
“Hopefully we will see again next year as I plan to defend the trophy,” Oyome said.
Her closest rival Magala who had raced into an early lead on day 1, however managed to finish with a total of 258 gross at the end of day 3 proceedings to emerge second place gross.
“I actually started on a good note and was hitting my balls well throughout the three- day period.
“I had 85, 86 and 87 gross respectively from day 1 to day 3 and you see that my score was getting worse as I wasn’t feeling well, especially on the final day.
“It doesn’t feel nice because I thought I was going to win this but the conditions became difficult, but at the end of the day, you have to play the course the way you find it,” Magala said.
She expressed her gratitude to the organisers for putting up a good tournament, adding that the hospitality was top-notch and that they (the Ugandan contingent) had no reason to complain.
“I always enjoy coming to Abuja to play the IBB Ladies Open. However, this year’s championship was quite tough for us as we could not use measuring gadgets.
“That was so disappointing because if is not easy to play a dry course like this one without it.
“But apart from that, we were happy to be here and enjoyed ourselves and hope to compete again next year, God willing,” she said.
Also, Gloria Mbaguta of Uganda with a total score of 262 finished as 3rd place gross.
Ruth Luwoye of Abeokuta Golf Club playing off handicap 25 with a nett score of 228 emerged winner of the nett prize.
Deanne Mamza of the IBB Golf Club, playing off handicap 20 with 229 nett finished second in the category.
While Adekunbi Usman, also of IBB Golf Club, playing off handicap 27 with 281 nett settled for the 3rd place position.
In the Gentlemen category for handicap 0 to 12, M. Suleiman playing off handicap 0, with a gross score of 81 emerged as winner of the category.
Dorcas Akinkugbe playing off handicap 52 with a nett score of 69 won the Super Veteran Ladies category.
Ifeoma Agunwah playing off handicap 51 with 66 nett emerged winner of the Veteran Ladies category.
Asan Jennifer won the prize for the longest drive ladies on day 1 with a distance of 249 metres, while Gloria Mbaguta won the prize for the longest drive Ladies in day 2 with a distance of 265 metres.
Kike Oluwole won the prize for the nearest to the pin Ladies on day 1 with a distance of 122 cm, while Oyome won the same prize for her 450 cm effort on day 2.
The championship which began on Thursday with the ceremonial tee-off ended on Sunday at the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)