29th Tiger Golf Championship: Nigeria’s Finest Golfers, Pro Lateef Lasisi, Amedu, Obadina, Omitowju, Others Arrive 2 Div Ibadan
•By Oyeniyi Awojoodu, Ibadan
IBADAN – The 2 Division Nigerian Army Odogbo Barrack, Fajuyi Adekunle Cantonment, Ojoo Ibadan is currently hosting some of the best golfers in the country who have made Nigeria proud in the international golf tournaments, just as the 29th edition of Tiger Golf Club Championship commenced.
Among the early arrivalt of the Tiger Golf Club Championship 2024 is Pro Lateef Lasisi who is the first Nigerian to win the Nigeria Opens in the year 1995, he’s also the Nigeria former number one golfer, and four time winner of Abeokuta Opens, also on the list of the early arrivals are the Chairman Local Organizing Committee of the championship, Pro Muyiwa Omitowju, the President of Tiger Golf Club, Pro Musa Amedu, the Captain of the Club, Alhaji Oluwagbenga Zubir, the vice Captain of the club, Brigadier General Beyidi Martins, Pro Hannah Obadina member Tiger Golf Club and Ibadan Golf Club, Secretary of the Competition, Pro Ojo Olayinka, Ambassador of the Club, Colonel Ali Muhammad Madara (Rtd) and many others.
Addressing journalists at a world Press Conference held at the Tiger Golf Club Hous 2 Div Headquarters, Ibadan, Oyo state Capital, Architect Muyiwa Omitowju the LOC Chiarman of the tournament commended the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 2 Division Nigerian Army for his support.
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Omitowju said, “The current GOC of the 2 Division Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Obinna Onubogu has been wonderful in putting this tournament together. He ensures that there is no hitch in the preparation, we’re thankful to him.”
Omitowju further noted that this year 2024 Tiger Golf Club Championship is the 29th edition of the Tiger Opens, stressing that the tournament was out together by the joint efforts of both the civilians and the Nigerian Army in order to further cement the relationship between the civilians and the military.
He maintained that the championship is going to be the biggest tournament organized by Tiger Golf Club.
He said, this tournament is generally slated for the last quarter of every year. This year’s edition has commenced and the amateur players will be performing this weekend, 23rd & 24th, November. The event kicked off today with a tournament, while the Pros will commence their own tournament for two days.
“The 25 professionals across the countries will be competing for Friday.
The best 10 out of the 25,will receive prizes. On Saturday, we have over 250 players who have registered and still registering for the tournament.
“This will be one of the best Tiger Open Tournament that the club has ever seen because a lot is being put into it, it will be top-notch.The 250 players who will be playing on Saturday have the category 1 prize which is a Million naira. All categories will be receiving prizes for their best performances.” Omitowju said.
In his address also, the Captain of the Club, Alhaji Oluwagbenga, added that the tournament is going to be the first of it’s kind in Nigeria.
He said, “We try to do this to also attract more golfers to visit Tiger Golf Club which is situated in the 2 Division, Nigerian Army Headquarters here in Ibadan, as well to showcase our gold course and to show people that Nigerian Army is not what people think they are when it comes to relationships with civilians.
“We’re trying to keep building the synergy between the military and the civilian. We’ll be having 48 prizes for different categories, showcasing the longest par 5 in West Africa which is hole 15.
Speaking briefly about the history of the Club, the representative of the GOC 2 Division at the Press Conference who also doubles as the Vice Captain of the Club, Brigadier Gen. Martins, said for almost a year since I assumed office at 2 Div Headquarters has been a very peculiar club because it stands out with a different tradition from any other golf club in Nigeria.
He further said, “Tiger Golf Club is a golf club in the heart of the Military Cantonment but with a very organized relationship and control that has more of civilians running it, that speaks a lot of the relationship between the 2 Division Headquarters and other Civilian Headquarters.
“This peculiar relationship has helped to keep the club running throughout the year without any bridge because of the incessant movement of Military officers due to postings and transfers, that is the reason for this arrangement.
“The Captain is a Civilian, Vice Captain, a military man, but seamless relationship and that has helped to make the club to thrive.There are many people that have grown out of this club and are soaring in other places today.
“This club emerged as a child of circumstance where the then General Officer Commanding who took over the Division and was a Patron realized that he needed to make Tiger’s Club Open, so, Tiger’s Golf Club started from Ibadan Golf Club, he felt there’s a need for a golf club and Course within the Cantonment, and that was what prompted the establishment of this golf club and it’s course right here.
“Transformation in Tiger’s Golf Club is an everyday thing and it hasn’t stopped.This golf course has experienced a magnificent transformation in the last five years. Currently hole 1, hole 6 and hole 15 has just been worked on, expanded and with bunkers around it. It will be commissioned in the next few days. He said.