No fewer than 250 golfers are expected to converge on the Ibadan Golf Club (IGC), Onireke, Ibadan for the two-day event of 7th Sovereign Trust Insurance Golf Open scheduled to tee off today at Ibadan Golf Club (IGC), Onireke, Ibadan.
Speaking at a press conference, Captain of the club, Mr Olumide Oyediran, represented by the second vice-captain, Col. Ade Sunmonu Rtd. disclosed that both amateur and professional golfers across the country would participate in this year’s edition.
ALSO READ: Rohr questions Iheanacho’s attitude
He lauded the insurance company for its contributions towards making golf a popular sport in Nigeria.
“Golf is not a popular game in Nigeria. We appreciate the efforts of companies like Sovereign Trust whose contributions have changed the trend for the game to be popular.
“Our government needs to do more for the game of golf in the country. It is a game that can earn people a living, boost tourism and generate revenue,” he said.
Sunmonu said the company (Sovereign Trust Insurance) has really added values to the game of golf in the country because the participants are now increasing every year.
He said the 7th edition of the tournament will be a unique one because “the sponsors have invested more money than the previous years so the guests will be having good motivation to win fantastic prizes.
“I can tell you that players and our guests will get better entertainment, better prizes, this year edition is going to be better than the 6th edition.”
According to Sovereign Trust Insurance Head of Corporate Communications/Brand Management, Segun Bankole said the company’s intervention and collaboration were aimed at opening up new opportunities.
Bankole added also that the tournament’s seventh edition would feature pre-tournament medical check-ups.
“Sovereign Trust’s collaboration with IGC is not based solely on financial gratification but an avenue to open the new phase of opportunity with the golfing community in Nigeria.
ALSO READ: We want to keep bringing Super Eagles to Asaba, Okowa says
“Since we started, the numbers of golfers who took part in the competition keeps growing year in year out that means we are exposing our Brand to a different set of golfers in the country.
“We are proud to be associated with Ibadan Golf Club and what it represents in the society, we hope in the years ahead, we would build on that relationship and it will go beyond this. We would one day have Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, Ibadan Golf Club on CNN, let foreign golfers coming into Ibadan Golf Club to play and then having that international exposure.
“I look forward to a very awesome tournament this weekend.”
Meanwhile, the tournament will tee off today by 6:30 am while the closing ceremony is scheduled for 5 pm on Sunday.