No fewer than 250 golfers across Nigeria have shown their readiness to participate in the sixth Insurance Open Golf Tournament.
The three-day tournament is scheduled for Ibadan Golf Club (IGC), Onireke, between September 20-22.
Trustee of the Club and Chairman, Local Organising Committee, Chief Babajide Olatunde Agbeja,, while speaking on the tournament, said it has come to stay despite years of delays due to some challenges.
Agbeja, a former Captain of the club and Insurance guru, said It has been six years since the 5th tourney was held due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, which extended to 2020 and also the economic crisis that led to poor support from sponsors.
He disclosed that there will be more Insurance officials’ participation this year, saying there is more turnout of active Insurance professionals in this year’s tournament.
He said: “We are eager to showcase the game of golf and we are expecting about 250 participants; 25 females, in which there will be 15 professionals and 225 male golfers from all over the country.
“We wanted more but had to limit the intake due to the weather.
“There will be trophies for the winners and nothing less than 25 winners in about eight to nine categories. The top winners will also get well-packaged gifts.
“As of today, we have 17 companies that have confirmed their readiness to support the tournament. The tourney has come to stay and we look forward to a roaring success this year.”
In his remarks, Captain of the Club, Mr Seyi Alaba, said he’s excited with the return of the tournament just as he lauded the initiator and the sponsors despite economic difficulties in the country today.
“I must thanked our Trustee and LOC Chairman of this upcoming event, for standing firm and making the tourney a reality despite all hurdles and we hope to have a successful event this weekend.
“Insurance Open is one of the clubs’ biggest competitions that every golfer in the South West looks forward to and the return brings a lot of joy to everyone and personally, I’m excited.
“Although, we are all aware of the current economic crisis, we are grateful to the companies that are ready and devoted to collaborate with us in making the tourney a success.
“It is a good thing happening to IGC as we are leveraging with other organisations to push the corporate image of the club.”
Also, the Competition Secretary, Bunmi Oladimeji, is delighted for the forthcoming event.
She said: “Within 24 hours, we had over 150 entries and that is a great encouragement. Our course is ready and we assure of loads of fun in the competition.
“I thank the Chairman of the Organising Committee for bringing this tourney back and I’m so glad because I will be the first competition secretary to host another one.”
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