Shabi, Opawunmi, Omole emerge winners at Babatola’s 70th birthday kitty
The serene fairways of the Sadiq Baba Abubakar Golf Course at the Nigerian Air Force Base, Shasha, Lagos, came alive over the weekend as golfers turned out in style for the Baba T @ 70 birthday kitty, celebrating veteran player Segun Babatola, fondly called Baba T. Competition and camaraderie blended seamlessly as players from Lagos […]
Olaitan Shabi (third from left) celebrates his victory with trophy in hand, joined by other golfers at Segun Babatola 70th birthday golf kitty
The serene fairways of the Sadiq Baba Abubakar Golf Course at the Nigerian Air Force Base, Shasha, Lagos, came alive over the weekend as golfers turned out in style for the Baba T @ 70 birthday kitty, celebrating veteran player Segun Babatola, fondly called Baba T.
Competition and camaraderie blended seamlessly as players from Lagos and Abuja gathered, but the spotlight ultimately fell on the champions. In the men’s division, Olaitan Shabi (Amotekun) stole the show with a 71 net off handicap 21, edging out Tony Madojemu (72 net) and Tony Obot (72 net).
The ladies’ category saw Shade Opawunmi card a brilliant 69 net (handicap 15) to lift the trophy, while Adenike Saliu followed on 72 net. Among the veterans, experience triumphed as former NTA Director-General, Sola Omole, claimed top honours with 86 net, ahead of General Ken Vigo (rtd) on 88 net and General Adebiyi Okanlawon (rtd) with 94 net.
Special prizes added sparkle to the day — Akonte Ekine won the men’s Longest Drive, Abiodun Hassan the ladies’ Longest Drive, while Shabi capped his fine outing by also claiming the Nearest-to-the-Pin prize.
For Omole, the kitty went beyond competition: “The Fun Golfers management team has done something truly special in celebrating Baba T with this kitty. It’s the kind of gesture that reminds us why golf is about friendship as much as it is about the game,” he said.
The celebrant, Baba T, was overwhelmed with gratitude: “At 70, to be celebrated this way by friends and fellow golfers is something I will cherish forever.”
As the sun set on the lush greens of Shasha, it was clear that the winners’ triumphs were just part of a larger celebration of friendship, fellowship, and the enduring spirit of golf.