The 63rd Nigeria’s Independence Anniversary Golf event held at the prestigious IBB International Golf and Country Club in Abuja on Sunday, September 30, 2023, was a huge success with Philip Poroma emerging as the overall winner.
Over 500 players from Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, and Cameroon participated in the tournament which commenced with the tennis competition on September 15 and rounded off on Nigeria’s Independence Day anniversary with the announcement of the winners of different categories.
Poroma, a member of the IBB International Golf and Country Club, won the tournament after beating over 500 other contestants to the coveted trophy.
The handicap 14 amateur golfer played 80 gross with the best nett of 66 to win the tournament. He smiled home with a brand new car prize courtesy of PAN Nigeria Ltd. and was also decorated with the green jacket, the ultimate symbol of success in golf.
In a rare showing, the tournament was graced by dignitaries from the government including a serving Federal Commissioner, Philip Poroma who represents the great states of Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers at the Federal Civil Service Commission.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Poroma expressed his pride and honour to have emerged as the winner of this year’s tournament and to receive a mouth-watering reward.
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The inter-country match-play saw Nigeria defeat Uganda by 8 and a half to 6 and a half in the doubles. In the double match-play against Cameroon, hosts Nigeria outplayed Cameroon with 15 and a half to 3 and a half.
Nigeria also won the double match-play by 13 and a half to 3 and a half against the Ghanaian squad, and 19 and a half to 10 and a half in the singles match-play.
The host captain, Olabanjo Obaleye, expressed satisfaction with the event and praised the organizers and participants for making it a huge success.
He noted that this year’s event would go down in history as the most attended by foreign countries.
The chairman of the organizing committee and Vice Captain of the Club, Ibrahim Babayo, remarked that golf was becoming a big foreign policy to a lot of countries and Nigeria cannot afford to sit back and watch.
Representatives of the participating countries saluted the organizers for an excellent outing both in the organization and performance.
The highlights of the day were the presentation of trophies and prizes to various winners, as well as the cutting of the independence anniversary cake.
