The turnout and performance of players at the just-concluded Ikeja Golf Club Ladies Championship, which produced a new champion in Alaba Adetunji, continues to excite the Vice Lady Captain of the club, Busola Ladipo.
The Championship, which commenced on October 11 with guests (Men) in action, featured participants from golf clubs across the South West Zone, including Ikoyi Club 1938, Ibadan Golf Club and Abeokuta Golf Club, among others.
Ikeja Golf Club Captain, Taiwo Joda (left), champion Alaba Adetunji and Vice Lady Captain, Busola Ladipo, during the presentation of the winner’s trophy to Adetunji.
Speaking on the 2022 experience, Ladipo said: “The Championship has been worthwhile, it couldn’t have been better than this with golfers from clubs across the country… the championship can be said to have taken a national dimension.”
The Vice Lady Captain believes the vent can be improved in subsequent editions, saying, “We will do a post motem and see how we can work on the grey areas and make the next edition better than this.”
She commended members, sponsors and partners that made the event successful.
The highlight of the championship, which ended on October 15, was the final round of Day-2 game that dragged into a play off among the trio of young Diana Osmond, middle-aged Alaba Adetunji and senior citizen, Chichi Alamu.
The three women tied +33 in the gross event after 36 holes; Osmond, who took an early lead on Day-1 played 81, 90; Alamu, 82, 89 and Adetunji, 84, 87.
For a winner to emerge, the technical committee decided to take the playoff to Hole 6 (par 4), which is said to be the toughest hole at the Ikeja Golf course. There, Osmond fell apart on +2, while Alamu and Adetunji tied again on +1.
The battle was extended to Hole 7 (par 4), which according to the club, is the easiest hole of the course; but that of course was where by fate the championship was decided.
Gallant fighter, Alamu, 64, who has won the Ikeja Ladies Championship a record 21 times, played +1 on the Par 4 Hole 7, while agile Adetunji, 38, a nursing mother and 2019 champion, played level par to wrap off the battle as the new champion.
Adetunji in her comment said, “I least believed I could win this Championship because I’ve not been playing for a long time. I have a baby; I came with the mind of having golf fun; but with uncommon determination, I found myself becoming the new champion. I give God the glory.”
