Enugu, the Coal City hummed with golfers who came in from across the country to compete in the 20th Heineken Enugu Amateur Open Golf Tournament.
Sponsored by the Nigerian Breweries Plc, the tournament ended with 32-year old Chima Chukwu from Benin Golf Club becoming the overall winner with best gross of 155.
Chukwu defeated S. Justin from Port-Harcourt club and Chimezie Onyeaghala of Enugu club who returned 159 and 156 gross respectively.
Enugu state Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Charles Ndukwe who represented Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi said by its consistent sponsorship of the tournament, NB Plc has demystified the age-long belief that golf is an elitist sport.
He said it “rather a captivating sport that has harnessed, the old and the young in the rugged spirit of camaraderie.”
He said the Ugwuanyi administration will always to invest in sports, insisting that it remains one major avenue of keeping young men busy and by so doing taking their minds away from crime.
The Managing Director of the NB Plc, Nicolaas Vervelde who was represented by the Public Affairs Managern of Ama Breweries, Patrick Ejidoh said sponsorship of the tournament had offered them the opportunity as a corporate entity to demonstrate their commitment to sports development in the country.
He said the golf event was in recognition of the role of sport in the enhancement of active and healthy mind.
He said with NB Plc and the Enugu Sports Club becoming age-long partners, he was hopeful that the club would continue to provide the enabling environment for the sustenance of the partnership.
The captain of the Golf Section of Enugu Sports Club, Vin-Martin Ilo who had earlier presented special awards tagged ‘Captain’s Service Award’ to his predecessor, Ben Etiaba, Patrick Ejidoh (Most Improved Golfer for 2015), Mike Raffaoul and son as most dedicated executive member and auxiliary member, respectively, appealed to the state government to not only sustain its support for the club but also to improve on it.
Other winners in the various categories of the game emerged went home with various items ranging from Plasma TV, refrigerators, gas cookers, standing fans and blenders, among others. (The Nation)
