‘Corporate Challenge ‘ll Raise Money For Two Charities’
The Organisers of the 62nd Lagos Amateur Golf Championship, which tees off on Thursday, have assured participants and fans of the sport a rewarding experience at the event.
Apart from the ranking points available for the excellent performers, the over 200 players expected at the championship have the additional incentive of playing to raise money for charity, win a Ford Escape SUV, as well as N4 million for the professionals.
At the media unveiling of the programme for this year’s competition in Lagos on Thursday, the organisers disclosed that the Lagos Amateur Open Golf Championship will tee off next Thursday with the Corporate Challenge for Charity, which seeks to raise money for two charities associated with First Bank. That would be followed by a welcome cocktail reception for participants in the evening.
On Friday, the championship will commence at 6.15 a.m. and halt from 1.30 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. for a professional coaching clinic organised to sharpen youths and amateurs’ skills in the sport.
According to the organisers, another professional coaching clinic will hold with children on Saturday after the day’s competition, which is expected to tee off by 6.15 a.m.
One of the most awaited events of the championship, Beat-The-Pro Longest Drive competition, will also hold on Saturday from 5.00 p.m., with the winner going home with N4 million.
Sunday, which is the final day of the championship, will begin at 6.15 a.m. with a Pro-Am competition featuring past winners, guests and ladies, just as the closing game commences at 9.30 a.m., after which the third leg of the professional coaching clinic will hold on the course.
Speaking on the competition, which is the oldest golf tournament in the country, FirstBank’s Managing Director, Adesola Adeduntan, who was represented by the bank’s Chief Risk Officer, Olusegun Alebiosu, reiterated the firm’s commitment to golf, which he described as a sport that provides networking opportunities for people.
He said: “The FirstBank brand is proud to be the headline sponsor of this prestigious golf open, being the sponsor for 62 consecutive years shows the commitment to our brand.
“It is a testimony to the fact that FirstBank is rock solid. I’d like to appreciate the Ikoyi Club 1938 golf section for being a solid partner over the years, we welcome on board our old and new co-sponsors.
“Golf is an aspiration sport that entails commitment, focus and hard work, which are some of our brand’s watchword as well. It’s going to be an exciting tournament.”
He disclosed that for three days, the best amateur golfers from across the world would converge on Ikoyi Club, Golf Section, to battle over 54 holes for ranking points and other exciting laurels.
Also speaking on the championship, Captain, Ikoyi Club 1938 Golf Section, Wahab Saruni, commended FirstBank for its unceasing sponsorship of the event, saying: “We’re proud to be in partnership with FirstBank, they are truly the first, they have sponsored this tournament steady for more than six decades, this is commendable.”
Apart from FirstBank, other part sponsors of the championship at the media unveiling of this year’s event were Coscharis Motors and Guinness Nigeria Plc.
