With 63 years of golf sponsorship, a landmark no other has come close to as Firstbank Plc took it a notch higher in the 2024 Lagos Amateur Championship.
This has fittingly earned the status of a Pro/Am, by virtue of a grand prize of N30million for 13 professional golfers that took part in the just concluded tournament.
Played at the 18-hole challenging golf course of Ikoyi Club 1938, it raises the bar very high with the winner of the pro event walking away with a sumptuous N10million; the highest so far in any Pro/Am event in Nigeria.
Simply put, it was gold standard, exemplified by excellence. Coinciding with the 130th anniversary celebration of the banking institution, it was golf at its very best, from about 200 amateur players drawn from golf clubs in the country battling for the prestigious honour of 2024 best amateur player in the land.
Thus, when the countdown to this year’s edition began months back, so much was expected. It was a roll call of the best amateurs and past winners that the country can boast of. There was Remi Olukoya, 3-handicaper, former champion Emmanuel Ojeabulu, Akeem Lawal, Samuel Emmanuel; the young man who lost to Isaac Umoru last year, the ever contending Olajide Owolabi and many more.
However, it was Hameed Adenekan, Ikoyi based youngish player taking part in the competition for the second time that cleaned out the oldies, taking the initiative from Day-1.
He on the light note by returning with an impressive level-par 71 followed Ojeabulu, who shot 2 over par 73. There was also Emmanuel Desmond at 74 and Michael Raillard one of the non-Nigerian on the course at 74.
Day-two was as seamless, great golf in display but when the trio of Adenekan, Emmanuel and Desmond stepped out for the final round on Sunday morning, the tension was palpable. Playing 5-shot going to the finals, it was sure not going to be easy day for Adenekan, somehow he managed his nerve securing victory with 225-score for 12-over par over 54-holes. Adenekan recorded 71-70 and a closing 82 to secure the top spot of a competitive Leaderboard.