Olajide Owolabi of Abeokuta Golf Club on Sunday won the 5th edition of the Insurance Golf Open held at the Ibadan Golf Club (IGC).
It will be recalled that Olajide who had won the Bar and Bench golf tournament three weeks ago.
Olajide played 152 Gross over the two-day ahead of Bello Adesina who recorded a total of 154 Gross.
Ojo Ayoola emerged the winner in the Insurance Staff Prize event after he played a Gross score of 193 with 159 Net.
Former Captain of IGC, Chief Babajide Olatunde-Agbeja won the Nearest to the Pin event, while Evelyn Oyome won the Ladies Gross with 162 Gross ahead of Alaba Olatunji of Ikeja Golf Club.
Speaking with Tribunesport, Olajide said he started his career as a Caddy and trained for five years at the Abeokuta Golf Club.
“I started golf in 2006 and represented Ogun State at the National Sports Festival held in Kaduna 2009 where I returned home with three medals.
“I am grateful to God for making the overall winner of this tournament and I hope to improve on my performance to win more tournaments,” said Olajide, who is being sponsored by Otunba Olumide Osunsina of MEGAMOUND.
Captain of IGC, Barrister Idowu Salami said Insurance Open is a competition that is not only renowned in the Nigerian golfing calendar but, also as one of the best corporately sponsored tournaments since its inception.
He lauded the Insurance companies who have consistently kept faith in terms of sponsorship of the remarkable tourney, just as he lauded the initiator of the tournament who is a trustee of IGC, Chief Babajide Olatunde-Agbeja.
“This is quite understandable in the light of the overwhelming endorsement by most of the Insurance companies in Nigeria. This year’s event equally has significant input from many Insurance companies despite the current economic challenges.”
In his remarks, Olatunde-Agbeja applauded the Insurance industry who keep promoting the game of golf in Nigeria.
“This year will be the first time that we will have three main sponsors for this tournament. Kudos to the Mutual Benefit Assurance Plc for their continuous leadership in sponsoring this tournament. They have now been joined by Ensure Insurance Plc, and the Leadway Assurance Ltd. We appreciate these three sponsors we assure you of the commitment of our members to patronise your organisations as well.
“To the other 13 Insurance companies that contributed to the success of this tournament, we are ever so grateful and look forward to your continuous support. I need to let you know that many Insurance colleagues have taken to the game of golf because of this competition,” he said.
Also, Otunba Olumide Osunsina, Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, MEGAMOUND, who is the sponsor of the winner described golf as the number one sport in the world.
Osunsina, who is a promoter of golf urged youths to embrace golf, saying it was a way out of poverty.
“We are sponsoring winners of golf tournaments as a way of investing in the youth. These young men are doing very well and they need sponsors to take them to the top.
“This is why MEGAMOUND is coming in to sponsor them as a way of giving back to the society,” Osunsina said.
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