President, Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, has praised Nigeria’s female teenage golf sensation, Iyene Essien, for her exploits at the St. Lawrence University (SLU) Fall Invitational in Canton, New York, United States.
Essien, a first-year Electrical Engineering student of Union College had a record-setting weekend to start her collegiate career at the SLU Fall Invitational, carding rounds of 70 and 81 to earn medalist honours with a program-record two-day score of 151.
The 18 year old smashed the school record by five strokes with her two-under 70 in her collegiate debut, carding three birdies, an eagle and no holes higher than bogey.
Despite facing incredibly difficult conditions, Essien carved up the course with the first sub-par round in Union golf history, surpassing the previous record of 75 set by current senior Liz Bentsianov on Sept. 17, 2022 at the NYU Fall Invitational.
A product of IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja, Essien carded an eagle on the par-five 11th to go with three birdies and three bogies in her collegiate debut, carding dual nines of 35 on the way to her record-setting score.
She followed up with an 81 on Sunday to break the school two-day scoring record and post a four-stroke victory, only the third individual medalist honor in program history and the first at an event with more than three teams.
Her effort ensured that she lead the Union College women’s golf team to a third-place finish at the season-opening St. Lawrence University Fall Invitational, held on Saturday and Sunday at Oliver D. Appleton Golf Course. Her excellent performance saw her earn the Union College Women’s Golf Performer of the Week award and three more earning spots on the weekly honour roll.
The NGF president stated that Essien’s accomplishments is an inspiration to the younger generation describing her as an ambassador of Nigeria’s grassroots golf development.
According to Runsewe, Essien’s success story was the motivating factor behind his desire to ensure that more talents were discovered at the grassroots in the country.
“Under my leadership as the NGF President, I have always emphasised the need to concentrate on grassroots development of the sport. This is why we have been able to build the Golf and Health Signature, a hub for the growth and development of young talents in the country.
“This is the way other advanced countries grew the game in their part of the world. They started well and early, and that’s exactly what we are also trying to achieve here at the Golf and Health Signature. These young talents are the future of the sport, and in a few years to come, they would represent Nigeria in different circuits around the world,” the NGF boss said.
Runsewe commended Essien’s parents for their commitment, time, energy and resources for seeing her through the most crucial part of her golfing career and also ensured that she gets the best of education. He advised other parents to learn from Essien’s story and encourage their children to start playing golf at an early age,
He however assured of the NGF’s continued support for young golfers to enable them reach their full potential and exhibit their talent while calling for more sponsorship from corporate bodies, private institutions and philanthropists to support grassroots development of sport in the country.
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