By Our Correspondent

The 2019 Nigeria Ladies Golf Open Championship teed off Wednesday at the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja with Ugandan Irene Nakalembe dictating the pace on the result chart, Bestchoicesports.com.ng can report.

Handicap 2 Irene grossed 76 and netted 72 on the Day One and was closely followed by Nigerian and Police Officer Amina Wilfred with two strokes behind. Handicap 8 Amina played a gross of 78 and a nett of 70. Another Nigerian, Racheal Danjuma occupied the third place with a nett of 74 and gross of 82 while the Defending Champion, Evah Magala of Uganda who grossed 82 and nett of 78 is in fourth position on the table.

In a statement signed by the Director, Media and Publicity for the Open, Kayode Adeniyi the three day event was officially teed off Wednesday morning by the Captain, IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja, Sola Awoyungbo and Outgoing President, Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria, LGAN, Ekanem Ekwueme

Kayode Adeniyi qouted Awoyungbo saying he is delighted that Ladies Golf Association picked the club as the venue for the tournament.

“The Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria are celebrating their annual event and we are excited they choose the IBB International Golf and Country club as the venue for the event. We have golfers from some African countries and Nigeria is represented by all the zones of the federation.

“We believe it will be a highly competitive event and they are all eager to play. They will not have the course to blame because the course is in good condition”.

“The competition will take ladies golfing to another level. Let me say am impressed with this large turnout,” he said.

In the same vein, the outgoing President, Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria, Ekanem Ekwueme said she is happy that she is ending her tenure on a good and winning note with the hosting of the competition.

“It is amazing and a good feeling for this to happen. A lot of ladies are playing and we have a good weather.

“The fact that I’m handing over to a new executive in a few days’ time is exhilarating. I’m happy with how events are panning out”. Ekanem said.

The youngest golfer in the tournament, Iyene Essien said she feels elated playing with her ‘mothers and grandmothers’.

“I have been playing golf since I was 5 and I’m 13 right now. Golf has been good and I have been winning tournaments and making my country proud.

   “I feel excited to play among my mothers and grandmothers and I pray they take it easy on me". she said.

The Chairperson, Organising Committee, Julie Okah-Donli promised that the remaining days with be lively for both the Nigerians and the foreign golfers. The Championship ends on Friday.