250 golfers storm Abuja for 2019 IBB Ladies Open
A total of 250 golfers from Nigeria and six African countries will be participating at this year’s IBB Ladies Golf Open tournament.
The organisers say the ceremonial tee-off the 21st edition of the annual tournament will be performed today by the minister of Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung at 6pm at the prestigious IBB International Golf and country club.
Addressing the press yesterday, the chairman of the organising committee, Maryrose RichardObioha said out of a total of 150 ladies who have registered for the three day tournament, 120 are for the main event which is for players with handicap 0-28.
She said male golfers who will participate as guest players would make up the expected number of 250.
The chairman disclosed that as at the time of the briefing players from Uganda had arrived and would be joined today by their counterparts from Botswana, Zambia, Ghana and Zimbabwe.
She explained that day one and two of the tournament will be for qualifying rounds that would produce 45 finalists who would compete for the grand prize on Saturday which is the final day of the competition.
“Thank God for making it possible for us to be here. We give glory to him. The ladies section of IBB Golf club have continuously put this tournament on their calendar.
“It is a three day golf tournament which will start tomorrow (today). We have day one and two as qualifying days. At the end of the qualifiers, 45 players who will emerge would proceed to the final game on the third day where winners would emerge.
“In the main draw, handicap required for ladies is 0-28. Of the 150 ladies who have entered for the tournament, 120 have the handicap of 0-28 for the main event,” she said.
Richard-Obioha also disclosed that the tournament is listed on the World Amateur Golf Ranking and players who would excel stand a chance of being ranked by the body.
“This tournament has always been listed but we have never had any player ranked but we hope, by the end of this tournament we would have some ladies ranked for the first time. Nigeria will be on the ranking as well.”