No fewer than 200 amateur golfers are set to compete at the 63rd annual FirstBank Lagos Open golf tournament, which will be held from November 18 to 24 at the golf section of the Ikoyi Club 1938.
The FirstBank Lagos Amateur Open Golf Championship is a World Amateur Golf Ranking event, administered by the Royal & Ancient Golf Club and United States Golf Association, making the championship one of the international golf events where all amateur golfers worldwide can participate and amass points to aid their WAGR rankings.
Speaking ahead of this year’s competition, the Chief Executive Officer of FirstBank of Nigeria Limited, Olusegun Alebiosu, thanked the management of Ikoyi Club 1938 for their partnerships over the past 63 years.
Alebiosu, who was represented by Patrick Iyamabo, ED/Chief Financial Officer, FirstBank, noted that the bank has additionally provided a steady platform to attract the best amateur golfers both locally and internationally, an initiative the financial institution will continue to pursue.
“We have enjoyed partnering on this remarkable initiative for 63 years and counting,” he said.
“The FirstBank Lagos Amateur Open Golf Championship is one of FirstBank’s most prominent sponsorships under the First@Sports initiative, through which the bank demonstrates its unwavering commitment to the development of sporting talents in Nigeria and globally.
“FirstBank’s partnership and long-standing sponsorship of the FirstBank Lagos Amateur Open Golf Championship are therefore one of the ways by which we demonstrate our commitment to building a legacy not only for golf and golfers, but sports in their entirety,” Alebiosu said.
Isaac Umoru, a golfer with St. Marks Golf & Country Club, Otukpo, Benue State, is the tournament defending champion.
Umoru came from behind to close with 74 for +13 over the course par for a total of 226 gross scores, winning the 54-hole championship by three shots over hard-fighting Emmanuel Samuel.
Samuel grossed +16 over three days, while Sola Ogunwoye ducked in the third position at +17 over the course par. Olajide Owolabi came fourth, closing at +23 over 54 holes.
