Emmanuel Ojeabulu, winner of the 61st FirstBank Lagos Open Golf Championship has been listed in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR).
The premier golf championship, which was held from 18 to 20 November at the golf section of Ikoyi Club 1938, was keenly contested by over 190 low handicap players from several golf clubs in the country.
Benin-based Emmanuel Ojeabulu won the three-day championship.
Playing three shots off the pace going into the last 18-holes, Ojeabulu played one of the best golf of his life, maintaining steady pars for a closing 74, three over the course par to win the World Amateur Golf Ranking recognized event by two shots.
Ojeabulu started his game with an opening 75, a second-day score of 78 and a closing 74 to replace Ilorin-based Aminu Kadir, the tournament-defending champion on the winners’ list.
Overnight leader, 20-year-old product of David Mark Golf Academy, George Paul who was tipped to win the tournament collapsed under pressure closing with an unimpressive 79 to lose by two shots.
In the third position is Muyideen Olaitan, three-time winner of the coveted FirstBank Lagos Open trophy while Iyare Osaze was further down on the winners’ chart by one shot, leaving perennial contender, Olajide Owolabi, who shot the tournaments best score of 72 on day two of the competition in the fifth position.
First Bank of Nigeria Limited, sponsors of the annual Lagos Amateur Open Golf Championship has pledged its commitment to the continuous sponsorship of the tournament which is one of the longest-running golf tournaments in Nigeria.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 61st edition of the tournament in Lagos on Sunday, the Chief Executive Officer of FirstBank, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan who was represented by Executive Director, Chief Risk Officer of First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Mr. Olusegun Alebiosu, said: “This year made it 61 years of our undiluted commitment to this cause, and we are delighted with the amazing support and partnership we have enjoyed from Ikoyi Club 1938 thus contributing to building a legacy not only for golf and golfers, but sports in its entirety.”
