A member of Ibadan Golf Club, Barrister Tunde Akande on Sunday won the second edition of the Bar and Bench Golf Open sponsored by Ondo State governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu.
Akande, played 179 Gross with 147 Net over the two days to beat Justice Ademola Bakre of Abeokuta Golf Club who played 159 Net to the star prize of the tourney.
In the Gross category, Olajide Owolabi from Abeokuta Golf Club claimed the first prize with 149 Gross ahead of Sola Ogunwoye.
Folasade Opawumi from Abeokuta Golf Club won the Ladies Gross with 182 ahead of Ann Oladejo who finished with 185 Gross.
An elated Akande, while speaking with Tribunesport described the victory as a perfect birthday present on the day he was a year older.
“I’m so elated today (Sunday) to have won this tournament because today happens to be my birthday.
“This is double blessing for me this year because this tournament is so special to me. I was well prepared and I give glory to God who crowned my hard work with success,” Akande said.
Earlier in his address, Captain of IGC, Barrister Idowu Salami lauded the sponsor of the Bar and Bench Open as well as the leadership of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) for the endorsement of the tournament.
“When we pioneered this laudable tournament in 2016 through the initiative of my learned friends in IGC, we had no doubts that this tournament will not only be a regular event in IGC’s competition calendar, but also an important national golf competition in view of the geographical spread of the golfers from various clubs in Nigeria.
“We are not unmindful of the uphill task and challenges of sustaining this event annually, but given the doggedness, focus and determination of the members of the organising committee such challenges are indeed surmountable,” Salami noted.
Also, NBA president, Abubakar Balarabe Mahmoud (SAN) represented by NBA Secretary, Abiola Olagunju said sports is a tool for national unity and a builder of national pride.
“It is on record that the first organised association of Nigerian lawyers took place in the historic city of Ibadan in 1954. It is therefore not a surprise to me and all leaders of the Bar, that the inaugural golf competition between the Bar and Bench took place in this city of Ibadan and this competition was a huge success with the number of the participants present,” he said.
There was a minute’s silence in honour of the pioneer chairman of this tournament, the late Yinka Abiose, with a special prize tagged Yinka Abiose prize and was won by Justice Ademola Bakre of Abeokuta Golf Club.
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