Carden Park in Chester became a meeting point for Nigerian golfers from across the world as the Nigeria-UK Golfing Association staged its 2026 International Tournament from 20 to 23 July.
Players travelled from Nigeria, the United Kingdom, the United States, Europe and other regions for four days of competition, networking, and social activities. New Daily Prime covered the event, which also attracted business leaders, community figures, and guests with an interest in golf and charitable causes.
The tournament reflected the association’s guiding values of “Friendship, Integrity and Charity.”
Beyond the competition itself, the programme gave participants an opportunity to strengthen relationships, meet new contacts, and support the wider development of golf.
For more than two decades, the association has used golf as a platform to connect Nigerians at home and abroad. The 2026 gathering continued that tradition by bringing together people from different professional and social backgrounds in one setting.
Global participation strengthens NUGA network
The event attracted golfers linked to several established clubs in Nigeria, including Ikeja Golf Club, Ibom Golf Club, Ikoyi Club, and the IBB International Golf and Country Club in Abuja.
Their presence added a strong Nigerian club representation to the international field and helped create closer links between players based in Nigeria and members of the diaspora.
NUGA Captain Fred Adegeye led the organisation of the tournament alongside Charles Ajani, chairman of the International Event Committee, and other members of the association.
The organising team coordinated the sporting activities, accommodation and social programme while welcoming guests from different countries.
Among those who attended was former Kogi State governor Captain Idris Wada, who served from 2012 to 2016 and is also known for his interest in golf.
Other guests included Olumide Osunsina, the Oba-elect of Ifo, and NUGA patron Bashorun Fatai Idowu Arobieke.
Chief Arobieke praised the organisers for delivering a successful event and creating another opportunity for Nigerian golfers to meet in the United Kingdom.
Nwamadu claims Day One honours
Competition on the opening day produced a close finish in the individual Stableford category.
Chike Nwamadu, Collins Mezeh and K. K. Yusuf each ended the round with 39 points. Nwamadu was declared the winner after countback, with Mezeh taking second place and Yusuf finishing third.
Countback is used when golfers finish with the same total. Their scores over selected final holes are compared to determine the order.
The team competition also produced a clear result. NUGA recorded 1,273 points in the Day One Team Stableford event, finishing ahead of the opposing side on 1,175 points. Both teams had 43 players.
Nanwar won the Best Lady prize after scoring 38 points, while Deji Akintola took the Best Veteran award with 37 points.
Grace Ihonvbere secured the women’s nearest-the-pin title, with M. I. Okoro winning the men’s category.
In the longest-drive competitions, Bisola Obileye claimed the women’s prize, while Alex Oboh finished first among the men. Muyiwa Alabi recorded the best gross score of the day with a round of 76.
More than a golf competition
Although the prizes and scores formed an important part of the event, the wider purpose went beyond the course.
Participants used the gathering to renew friendships, discuss business and community matters, and strengthen cooperation among Nigerian golfers in different countries.
The tournament also showed how diaspora organisations can use sport to build networks and maintain links with Nigeria.
For NUGA, the Carden Park event was another step in a long-running effort to combine competitive golf with friendship, charity, and community engagement.
The strong attendance and range of winners reflected both the standard of play and the association’s growing international reach.
