A member of the Ibadan Golf Club (IGC), Hajaig Wissam, on Saturday won the maiden edition of the IGC Captains Golf Invitational, played at the club premises.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that he won the tournament by 97 Gross and 69 Net on count back, ahead of Kayode Sowande of Abeokuta Golf Club, who played 96 Gross and 70 Net.
The Acting Captain of IGC, Tunji Oladosu, emerged the winner of the Present Captains category with 94 Gross and 76.
In the past Captain category, Father Joachim Akee from Tiger Golf Club won the top prize. Ahmed Sulaiman emerged the winner of the Men Gross with 76 Gross.
Oladosu lauded all the participants, saying this is first of its kind in the history of golfing circle in Nigeria.
He challenged golfers to re-awake the giants and live up the potentials and treasures within them.
“Have visions, goals and dreams to pursue and most especially bringing them to reality to impact humanity and generations to come.
“This event was born out of the vision and initiated by my late Capt. Ola Ibironke, known as Dudu Heritage Films to host and invite all the Nigeria Golf Clubs kings and queens, past and present captains, ladies, and gentlemen who have served in this category before and still serving, for their day of reward, honour and celebration.
“You have during your different tenures served meritoriously and selflessly, left or leaving legacies of positive development and changes that has transformed and added values to the growth of your various Clubs, as well as making positive impacts to the golfing communities; and now is the time for you to come back home and be recognised, celebrated, honoured and appreciated.
“According to Ibironke, “I just found out that immediately after you finish serving as captain, people just forget about you and nothing is connecting us again. You only just carry on with the title of being a past captain.
“He thought and reasoned out that it is time for them to be celebrated just like what obtains in the army that you see retired generals and officers that still connect with themselves and are recognized for that attainment for the rest of their lives,” he said.
Also, Secretary of the Club, Seyi Alaba, said that over the years, Ibironke observed that Captains of various clubs work assiduously and tirelessly to achieve their set goals.
Alaba said the tournament is designed to bring together the Present and past captains of various golf clubs in the country.
“These people have served and provided leadership for their various golf clubs meritoriously and have promoted the game of golf in the country.
“It is in consultation of this that IGC deemed it worthy bringing them together and honor them with the maiden edition of this tournament which will eventually become an annual tournament on a rotational basis,” he said. (NAN)
