The second eTranzact Golf Classic tees off today at the IBB International Golf and Country Club in Abuja, with Nigeria’s top golfers vying for a share of the N20 million prize money. Defending champion Francis Epe, currently Nigeria’s number one, will face stiff competition from Sunday Olapade, Kamilu Bako, and other contenders.
Epe, Olapade, and Bako are expected to lead Nigeria’s charge, with Olapade fresh from a fourth-place finish at the Cameroon Open last weekend. Other top players include Kamalu Bako, Okoko Godwin, Kabiru H. Mohammaed, Marcus Elisha, and George Inalegwu.
The 54-hole tournament, organized by the Professional Golf Development (PGD) Tour, aims to promote local talent and provide a platform for Nigerian golfers to excel. eTranzact’s Managing Director, Niyi Toluwalope, expressed hope that the tournament will showcase the potential of Nigerian golfers and promote healthy competition.
A strong field of 185 professionals and amateur players will compete over three days, with a mid-way cut after 36 holes. The top 30 professionals and club amateurs will proceed to the classification round on Friday, May 17, 2024.
The PGD Tour Commissioner, Femi Olagbenro, praised the eTranzact event for supporting the growth of professional golf in Nigeria. “This year, we have staged three events on the PGD Tour, and the eTranzact is the latest. We are glad at the impact the event is making. Today, the Nigeria circuit has become very dynamic because of the flair that PGD Tour has brought to the fore,” Olagbenro said.