By Ebube Dike

Michael Ubi of Python Golf Club, Port-Harcourt in Rivers State has emerged champion of the 2020 Chief Of Army Staff, COAS Golf Tournament even as he promised to work harder next year to defend the Chief of Army Staff Pro Am Golf Tournament trophy won at the TYB -lnternational Golf Resorts and Country Club, Abuja.

Ubi grossed 139 over 36 holes to emerge the 2020 winner of the Chief of Army Staff Golf Tournament in a regular tour Pros, an event that saw his arch chsllenger, Bala Abdullahi of Ashaka Cement Golf Club trailing with the same score margin but ended with plus one.

   S. Okpe of Minna Cantonment Golf Club and J. Okoromi of Ilorin Golf Club both scored 140 gross over 36 holes to jointly placed in third position.

   In the senior tour Pros, M. Liman of IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja was adjudged the winner while Tina Micah of Rhyno Golf Club, Jos in Plateau State won the Lady Pros with 166 gross over 36 holes.

  The Over-all Best Gross trophy went to John Alex of Otukpo Golf Club in Benue State after playing 70 while Captain of Kaduna Golf Club, H.Adamu took away Over-all Best Nett with 62. The Best Gross of Category 1 went to David Ali while Best Nett of category 2 and 3 won by S. Icha and Osarenren J.N

 In his speech on the closing day of the week-long tournament, the life Patron of the TYB-International Golf Resorts and Country Club, Abuja, the elated Chief of Army Staff,  Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai promised to support the game of golf in Nigeria

” I have noted the effort at grooming young and talented players for the future through the Caddy tour. We must continue to constructively engage our energetic youth both male and female and continue to support them. Am also glad to note that this Pro Am tournament has set the record as for the first time the lady professional golfers participated in the professional tour in a Club event in the country. This affirms that Nigeria has talents to compete at global levels with appropriate exposure and support”. Lt Gen Buratai said.

The Chief of Army Staff directed that the Pro Am Golf tournament be made an annual event of the Nigerian Army and be captured in the budget of 2021 Army Sporting events.

Highlights of the week- long COAS Pro Am Golf tournament include ground breaking and launching of TYB – International Golf Resorts and Country Club, Abuja, Presentation of trophies to deserving winners and appreciation to the President of Nigeria Golf Federation(NGF) Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola who was represented at the occasion by the NGF’S Media and Publicity Director, Mrs Ekanem Ekwueme, the immediate Past President of the Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria, LGAN.