Nasarawa State: 200 Golfers to compete in first Ladies Open

About 200 amateur golfers have arrived in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, to compete in the first Ladies Open Golf Championship.

The competition is set to take place from September 3 to 5 at the Lafia Golf Club Course.

Lady Captain, Lafia Golf Club, Asibi Omeri-Ogabo, said the club was holding the first edition of the tournament in collaboration with the Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria.

“I am so happy that those I invited and even those that I didn’t invite all came to be with us. So for now, we have about 200 golfers on ground. We are still expecting more.

“We thought we could have the foreigners but we have only two foreigners from Uganda. Other foreigners could not make it due to the Coronavirus pandemic,” she said.

Omeri-Ogabo explained that she pushed for the maiden edition of the championship to raise more awareness on the beauty of the game, to attract more people to show interest in golf, especially in the northern part of the country.

“I felt the need to organise this event in Lafia to help attract more ladies, men and children to join golfing. Its quite an interesting game.

“Another goal for organising this event is to attract businesses in Lafia. With the population here today, many businesses are been patronised. So I feel that what I have done today is something worthwhile,” Omeri-Ogabo said.

She said the tournament would feature amateur golfers from across the country who would be competing for mouth-watering prizes in various categories.

Omeri-Ogabo thanked the Nasarawa State Government under the leadership of Governor Abdullahi Sule for supporting the club to organise the championship.

Dignitaries expected at the event include; the Governor and his wife, Silifat Sule, as well as his Deputy, Emmanuel Akabe and his wife, Mrs Sheila Akabe.

NAN/Mercy Chukwudiebere