The Dutse Royal Golf Club Gulf Course hosted about 100 professional and amateur golfers in the First Jigawa Governor’s Cup Golf Tournament.
The golfers played for four days on the 18 holes golf course on the outskirts of the state capital, winning about 50 trophies and other prizes which include refrigerators and flat screen televisions among other prizes.
Players drawn from Bauchi, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna, Lagos and other golf clubs played in various categories to win various trophies and cash prizes which were presented to them at the closing of the event on Sunday.
The Professional Golfers Association (PGA) contingent led by the General Manager (GM), Mike Alika comprising of veteran men and ladies Golfers also played at the tournament in Dutse.
Round Roving Golfers of the South West led by two former captains of Ikeja Golf Club also graced the event and made a good showing.
Various dignitaries including the Jigawa state governor, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar and the professional Golfer and the developer and proprietor of Dutse Royal Golf Club, the emir of Dutse, Alhaji Nuhu Muhammad Sanusi.
Emma Gyang of Lamingo Golf Club, Ahmed Matsafa of Bauchi Golf and Country Club, and Rose Luka also of Bauchi Golf and Country Club who won Best Runner-up Net in the amateur category were among the winners.
The overall winner was Christopher Francis of Minna Cantonment Golf Club won a trophy, other prizes and a cash prize of N500, 000 and a return ticket courtesy of Arik Air.
Other winners include Victor Enahele of Uni Ben Golf Club who won N140,000 cash prize and a return ticket to a place of his choice.
In the regular tour (under 50), Steven Okpe of Minna Cantonment Golf club also won N27, 000 cash prize. Ezan Ayuba of Lamingo Golf club also won a cash prize of N287, 000.
In a remark after the prizes presentation, the captain, Dutse Royal Golf Club, Alhaji Babangida Umar Gantsa said that the golf course in Dutse is the most challenging in the country.
He however said that despite the challenges, none of the golfers who played at the tournament won under.
He said that, the golfers have really enjoyed playing at the golf course and are willing to come back and participate in subsequent tournaments.
Gantsa, who also played in the tournament, added that Golf will be developed in Jigawa state in order to attract people from all over Nigeria and beyond.
He announced the naming of Hole One at the Dutse Royal Golf Course after the Jigawa state governor, Alhaji Muhammad Badaru Abubakar. He also said that the next tournament would be held in June, 2019.
Speaking, Mike Alika, the PGA General Manager said their members are happy to come to Dutse and participate in the tournament.
He said that golf is an emerging tourism potential that attracts people from far and wide adding that when developed, it will be a great economic driver in Jigawa State.
