Olapade Sunday leads 295 golfers to Ilorin for ICMA Pro-Am Open

The ancient city of Ilorin will this week come alive as 295 golfers from across Nigeria and beyond storm the Kwara State capital for the highly anticipated ICMA Pro-Am Open Tournament. The four-day championship, which tees off on Thursday at the 18-hole Ilorin Golf Club, marks the second edition of the event and will feature […]

The ancient city of Ilorin will this week come alive as 295 golfers from across Nigeria and beyond storm the Kwara State capital for the highly anticipated ICMA Pro-Am Open Tournament.

The four-day championship, which tees off on Thursday at the 18-hole Ilorin Golf Club, marks the second edition of the event and will feature top professionals, category one players, and women golfers.

Speaking on Monday during a press briefing to herald the event, Club Captain, Jide Allen, said the tournament has continued to grow in both size and reputation since its debut last year.

According to him, 170 amateurs, 106 professionals, and about 20 category one players have registered to compete in this year’s edition.

He explained that the tournament will open with rounds for professionals and category one players before other categories join the field later in the competition.

Allen also revealed that top players from Ghana and Cameroon, who are members of the Nigerian Golfers Association, will participate in the event. Among the star-studded lineup are defending champion Godwin Okoko, last year’s joint runners-up Francis Ekpe and Oche Udor, as well as Nigeria’s number one golfer, Olapade Sunday.

“This year’s edition will be thrilling because Olapade, who missed last year’s tournament due to an international tour, will be here to compete as there is no such development holding him back now,” the captain said.

He noted that the professionals will battle for a prize fund of N15 million, separate from other expenses for the event.

Allen commended the Investment and Capital Market Associates (ICMA) for their unwavering sponsorship and contribution to the growth of golf in Ilorin.

“ICMA has consistently shown commitment to our growth as a club and to the game of golf in Nigeria. Their support has put Ilorin firmly on the national golf map,” he added.

In his remarks, ICMA representative, Faruk Ismail, explained that the decision to bring the tournament to Ilorin was inspired by the passion and dedication of the club’s management.

“For over fourteen years, we have hosted a Pro-Am event in Lagos to mark the birthday of our chairman, Alhaji Awa Ibrahim.

“We decided to expand that gesture by making the Ilorin edition an annual event as part of our way of giving back to the community,” he said.

He added that the initiative also strengthens ICMA’s relationship with partners and associates from Kwara State, many of whom are active members of the Ilorin Golf Club.

With a blend of elite competition and community spirit, the ICMA Pro-Am Open is poised to further cement Ilorin’s reputation as one of Nigeria’s rising golf destinations.