The maiden edition of Glo Golf Tour West Africa ended on Sunday night in Otukpo, Benue State with a big bang as Globacom doled out N20 million cash, a brand new car, motorcycles, sewing machines and other prizes to pros and amateurs who won in the Grand Finale, including the Senate President, Senator David mark and his wife Helen.
The Senate President, playing with handicap 12 won the veterans men event with a score of 176 gross in the 36-hole event on the Otukpo Golf and Country Club while his wife led the? women’s field with a score of 251 gross.
David Mark, Helen Mark,the Och’ Otukpo, Dr. John Eimonye,? and over 30 other amateurs who won in several categories received different prizes from Globacom at the prize giving ceremony and Gala night which featured top-rated artistes including afro-calypso star, Lagbaja and comedian Okey Bakassi among others.
Commenting during the? event, Senator Mark said the Glo Golf Tour West Africa 2012 was a huge success not only because the highest ranked professional golfers in West Africa participated in the tournament but also because of the exceptional quality of organisation, the N62.5 million unprecedented prize money and the glamorous closing ceremony.
He said that by solely sponsoring the Glo Golf Tour 2012 with its scale and class, Globacom had done what he had always preached that the corporate sector should step in to support sports development in the country. He singled out Globacom Chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga whom he described as his friend and brother, for special commendation for his massive support for sports development in West Africa.
He explained that no sports was elitist, contrary to the opinion of many that golf was. He pointed out that many of those who won prizes in the amateur categories were youths who were not very well to do. He said that every sport was capable of bringing glory to a nation.
He announced that for the next five years, the Glo Golf Tour grand finale would be held in Otukpo and called on the pros to improve their game as the Otukpo Golf Course would be upgraded to be more challenging.
“Once you play here (in Otukpo) after the upgrade, you can play on any course in the world and do well,” he said.
Senator Mark also announced that next year, the West African Glo Golf Tour would be upgraded to an African Golf Tour, attracting top-most players from Africa and the rest of the world.
Also during the grand finale witnessed by many dignitaries including Assistant Inspector General of Police , Mr. Ilesanmi Aguda,? the winner of the hole-in-one car prize, Mohamed Liman collected his car prize while Ghana’s Emos Korblah, Vincent Torgah and Edet Umoh who came first second and third respectively in the professional competition also received their cheques.
Twenty four winners in other categories including, the men’s category 2 handicap 6-12, men’s category 3 handicap 13-18 and Ladies Handicap 0-18 and Handicap 19-37 all received various prizes including motorcycles, refrigerators, microwave ovens, DVD players, Golf kits, clippers, dryers among others.?
Felix Pam of the IBB Golf and Country Club won the category one prize being the only surviving Category One player to advance with the pros in the 72-hole pro competition.
The icing on the cake was when the Director of the Professional Golfers Association of Nigeria, Festus ,? emerged winner of N1million through a raffle draw for veterans only.
Makelemi said professional golfers had never had it so good in West Africa and commended Globacom for making the dream of golfers a reality by sponsoring the tournament.
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