Babatunde Oyalami caps a brilliant week with victory at the 64th FirstBank Lagos Amateur Open Golf Championship on Sunday, winning the tournament’s coveted trophy. Oyalami grossed 231-over 54-holes to emerge the winner. The Osun-based golfer started his game with an opening 78, a second-day score of 75, and a closing 78 for 231 total, winning by 3 shots.
With a gross score of 324 over 54 holes, Osaze Iyare came second, beating the third-placed Ibrahim Bilya by two shots. Bilya carded an opening 84, a second day score of 75, and a closing 77 to duck in the third position.
St. Mark Golf and Country Club, Otukpo-based, Monday Joseph was further down on the winners’ chart after grossing a total of 237, while Michael Isife from Enugu Golf Club completed the top five in the gross category.
Happy with his performance, Oyalami, while thanking FirstBnk for the opportunity to play in the Lagos Open, said the victory has opened a way for his professional career, noting that just like most of the previous winners, he is ready to take a plunge into the elite professional cadre.
“I am very happy to win this competition. I also want to say a big thank you to FirstBank for the sponsorship of the Lagos Open. Winning this tournament to me is like a dream come true, and I can also now say that I am ready to turn professional just as most other winners”, he said.
Pro Monday Eze, two-time winner of the Lagos Open, won the first prize of N10 million staked in the professional category while others got consolation prizes. Apart from the cash award to professionals, Bethesda Home and School for the Blind and Pacelli School for the Blind got N3m each donated to their schools.
Pledging to continue to impact positively in the growth of sports across the country, the Chief Executive Officer of FirstBank, Olusegun Alebiosu, represented by Nnaemeka Ejeh, Group Executive, Retail Banking, South, says FirstBank will continue to deepen its commitment to sports development through its First@sports initiative, a platform dedicated to promoting excellence, nurturing young athletes, and strengthening community engagements.
