It was celebration galore for staff and members of Mark Golf Academy, Otukpo, Benue State, including former Senate President, David Mark and his wife, Helen, as Godwin Okoko won the 14th Junior Golf Open Championship trophy at the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja.
In the Championship played over the weekend in Abuja, Godwin Okoko who won the 13th edition last year, grossed 221 to emerge overall winner of the 2022 edition in a competition organised by Lady Captain Joy Ikwue led lady section of the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja.
Godwin went home with one thousand US dollars prize money, the first in the history of the competition.
Other results show that in the Boys category 15 to 18 years, Agib Aubrey Hughes of IBB Golf Club played 228 gross to lead the race, while Michael Isife of Enugu Golf Club emerged the 1st runner-up nett with 241 same as Emmanuel Otokpa of Kuru, Jos Club who was adjudged 2nd Runner-Up Nett.
In the girls category, it was all Otukpo affairs as Janet Ali emerged winner with 267 score while Grace Agbo, Joy Akatu and Helen Omakwu are 1st, 2nd and 3rd runner-ups respectively.
David James Chuwang of Rayfield Golf Club, Jos won the Category 2 Boys of Eleven to Fourteen years with the score of 244, followed by Nandom Danjuma of Rayfield and Atang Yakubu of Lamido Golf Club, Yola while Blessing Adah of Otukpo, Omaruaye of IBB Golf Club and Janet Onah of Otukpo dominated the girls category.
The Boys Seven to Ten years category has Wisdom Onjefo of Otukpo as winner, Musa Suleiman of TYB Golf Club, Abuja and Jeremiah Dede of Bauchi Golf Club are in 1st and 2nd runner-ups while Anna Okopi of Otukpo emerged the winner of girls category with Omowonuola Olanrewaju of IBB Golf Club and Precious John of Otukpo as the 1st and 2nd runner-ups.
The overall winner, Godwin Okoko who just graduated from Destiny College, Otukpo called for more competitions for the Junior Golfers.
He said he aspired to be like Tiger Woods if opportunity provided.
Lady Captain, Joy Ikwue said the prize of One thousand dollars for the overall winner was a good start that can help Godwin Okoko in his education.
She called for more sponsors for the Junior Golfers as the only way to prepare them for future task both in national and international competitions so that Nigeria name can be boldly writing in the world map of the game.
Over 150 golfers from all over Golf Clubs in Nigeria took part in the 18 holes championship which was played for 3days.
