Becky Danladi of TYB International Golf Resort and Country Club, Abuja, on Saturday emerged overall winner of Africa’s first ever indoor golf championship in Abuja.

The championship organised by the President of Nigeria Golf Federation, Olusegun Runsewe, had about 150 lady golfers participating at the Golf and Health Signature in Abuja.

Ms Danladi clinched the championship overall prize after she returned a total gross score of 43.

She played off handicap 24 and returned a gross score of 14 and 29 in the indoor and outdoor event respectively which was the lowest total gross score of the championship.

She was closely followed by Tessy Johnson also of TYB IGRCC who grossed a total of 44 after returning 16 and 28 gross in the indoor and outdoor event respectively.

Staff Sergeant Maureen Apute, the Lady Captain of TYB IGRCC, overcame Nanwor Mamven of IBB International Golf and Country Club on count-backs to finish third.

This was after both players posted 15 and 32 gross in the indoor and outdoor event respectively for a total gross score of 47.

Susan Marcus also of TYB IGRCC completed the top five spot after she grossed 18 (indoor) and 30 (outdoor) for a total of 48 gross.

In the auxiliary prizes category, Maryam Atta-Bala of IBB IGCC won the prize for the nearest to the pin with a distance of 3 feet.

Marcus Susan of TYB IGRCC settled for the runner-up prize in the category with a distance of 4 feet.

The longest drive award went to Juliet Umolu of IBB IGCC with a distance of 278 metres, while IBB IGCC Grace Ihonvbere was awarded the prize for the best indoor score of 13 gross.

Dame Julie Donli, the Lady Captain of IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja, won the prize for the best dressed lady golfer of the championship.

Mr Runsewe said that hosting the championship – the first ever in Africa, was a thing of joy and pride for Nigeria.

“I am so delighted to see that Nigeria is making another first. The indoor golf and short game is the first of its kind in the whole of Africa. As the giant of Africa, we must take the lead. We cannot sit down and be waiting for other African countries to show us the way. So, what we have succeeded to do here today is the beginning of greater things to come in terms of the growth and development of golf in the country. This is the way other advanced countries grew the game in their part of the world. They started well and early, and that’s exactly what we are also trying to achieve here at the Golf and Health Signature,” he said.

The NGF president said that the course would be a hub for the growth and development of young talents in a few years to come.

He said the talents discovered would represent the country in different circuits.

He stressed that there was a need to start early and well with a course such as what was obtainable at the Golf and Health Signature if the country intended to get its priority right.

He stated, “You can’t carry a child of 10 to 12 years to just go on the 18-hole Golf course. They need to start from somewhere to understand that short games are the first and sure way to grow and develop their skills. Under my leadership as the NGF president, we have been able to showcase the best of Nigeria in terms of golf. I can tell you that even the ladies, over 90 percent of them are playing indoor golf and short game for the first time. So, it’s a beginning. However, we have embraced it before other African countries and it is indeed a historic and monumental achievement.’’ 

(NAN)