Jacob Ihezie has emerged as the overall winner of the 2023 Mike Ekoja Captain’s Cup in Abuja.
The week-long 2023 Captain’s Cup which was its 24th edition began on Tuesday and ended on Sunday at the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja.
Ihezie was crowned the overall champion after he played off handicap 17 and returned a gross score of 85 and 68 nett to claim the 2023 Captain’s Cup top prize.
The champion smiled home with a 5kVA Phocos Inverter, 5.3kWh WeCo Lithium Battery and 8460W Yingli Solar Panels worth a N 5. 59 million.
The solar system is expected to be installed free by one of the event’s major sponsors, CDD Infrastructure.
“I feel so happy and fulfilled after training so hard for this tournament and winning the star prize at the end of the day.
“It shows that hard work and commitment pays.
“I really feel honoured and grateful to the organizers, executives and board of trustees of this great club as well as the sponsors of this wonderful tournament for this valuable prize given to me.
“My goal now is to continue to train very hard and improve myself in the game, so as to defend my title again in the next edition of the Captain’s Cup,” an elated Ihezie said.
Amina Wilfred, playing off handicap 0, with a gross score of 76, won the prize for the best gross ladies.
In the ladies category for handicap 0 to 18, J. Ayu playing off handicap 18, with a gross score of 94 and 76 nett emerged as winner of the category.
D. Mamza (18) and Rachael Danjuma (0) finished as runner up and second runner up with a gross score of 95, 96 and 77, 79 nett respectively.
In the ladies category for handicap 19 to 28, A. Yaduma playing off handicap 24, with a gross score of 93 and 69 nett emerged as winner of the category.
E. Umana (26) and MaryRose Richard-Obioha (23) finished as runner up and second runner up with a gross score of 99, 97 and 73, 74 nett respectively.
The ladies’ veteran category (handicap 19 to 54) was won by F. Olateju playing off handicap 27 with a gross score of 101 and 74 nett ahead of former IBB Lady captain Julie Acholonu (38), who returned 113 gross and 75 nett.
U. Wada playing off handicap 24 with 93 gross and nett score of 69 won the Super Veteran Ladies category (handicap 19 to 28) ahead of F. Anyanwu (24), who returned a gross score of 114 and 91 nett.
In the Vetran Ladies category for handicap 0 to 18, M. Saleh with 90 gross and 68 nett emerged winner, while former IBB lady Captain, Lami Ahmed returned a gross score of 107 and 73 nett to finish as runner up.
In the Auxillary prizes category, M. Makosi won the prize for the longest drive ladies on day 1 with a distance of 218 meters, while Wilfred won the prize for the longest drive Ladies on day 3 with a distance of 230 meters.
Adedoyin Oyenusi and Godwin Okoko carted home the prizes for the longest drive men on day 2 and 3 respectively with a distance of 240 and 270 meters respectively.
O. Babasola won the prize for the nearest to the pin men on day 1 with an impressive 11.2 feet effort, while G. Bamidele and A. Tarfa won the same prize for their efforts of 3.8 and 2.3 feet on day 2 and 3 respectively.
Patience Katchy won the prize for the nearest to the pin Ladies on day 1 with a 20.3 feet effort, while Wilfred won the same prize for her 11.9 feet effort recorded on day 3.
The well attended tournament, adjudged the best ever organized Captain’s Cup in the history of the tournament, had in attendance a delegation from Cameroon and some other African countries.
