2023 Mike Ekoja Captain’s Cup: N2m up for grabs for pro golfers

Organisers of the 2023 Mike Ekoja Captain’s Cup have set aside a N2 million prize money for the professional golfers category of this year’s golf tournament in Abuja.

The Voice Media Trust (VMT NEWS) reports that the tournament, which is in its 24th edition, is in honour of Ekoja, the outgoing captain of the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja.

Julius Fadero, the Competition Secretary, IBB Golf and Country Club, on Tuesday said that the tournament would be different and more exciting with a lot of mouth-watering as well as consolation prizes.

“As you are aware, no two Captain’s Cup are the same and the goal is always to go a step further.

“So, this year, for the golf professionals, there is a N2 million prize money set aside for the winners of that category.

“While there is a N500,000 prize money for those in training.

“For the amateurs, we have different categories, but the overall which is the star prize as it were is a N5.5 million worth of solar system to be installed for the overall winner, which makes this year’s event unique.

“We have other consolation prizes such as free business class tickets, courtesy of our sponsors, Ibom Air and Qatar Airways.

“We also have some refrigerators, air conditioners and television sets donated by some of our sponsors, to mention a few,” he said.

He said that the format of play would be stroke play with the tournament expected to get under way on Wednesday and end with the prize presentation and dinner on Saturday.

“The Captain’s Cup kitty, tennis and the pros will slug it out in a one-day 18 hole winner-takes-it-all event on Wednesday, while the Ladies handicap 19 to 28 and 29 to 54, Vetran Ladies handicap 19 to 54 as well as the Super Vetran Ladies play on Thursday.

“Also, the Men handicap 19 to 28, 29 to 54, Vetran men handicap 19 to 28, 29 to 54, Super Vetran Men as well as Tennis will wrap of activities for Thursday.

“On Friday, it will be the Men handicap 13 to 18, Vetran men handicap 13 to 18, Super Vetran Men handicap 13 to 18 and tennis action.

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“The curtain falls on the tournament on Saturday with the ceremonial tee-off at 9 a.m. followed by the ladies handicap 0 to 18, men handicap 0 to 5, 6 to 12, as well as the Sponsors and Captain’s Guest categories,” he said.

Boboye Oyeyemi, the Chairman, Organising Committee of the tournament, said that this year’s tournament promises to be unique and the biggest ever in honour of a great club captain who worked very hard

“Mike Ekoja set out on a journey to steer the ship of this great club on April 30, 2022, as the Captain for the usual one year term.

“As is our tradition, towards the end of every tenure, we celebrate the stewardship of the captain by organising a golf and tennis tournament for our caddies, staff and members of the club.

“It is also an opportunity to let people know about the game of golf. Golf is health, good living, age friendly and builds camaraderie and friendship.

“When you are a golfer, you build a lot of network and improve your mental faculty,” he said.

Boboye, who is the immediate past Corps Marshal of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), noted that over 500 golfers were expected to participate in the tournament.

“We have a lot of sponsors from Defence Headquarters, Central Bank of Nigeria, Defence Intelligence Agency, Federal Ministry of Transport, Transmission Company of Nigeria and Federal Mortgage Bank.

“We also have individual sponsors as well companies such as Pepsi, PD Homes, West Africa Ceramics, NIMASA, to mention a few who have all contributed to this 24th Captain’s Cup which is unique and the biggest ever in the history of the tournament,” he said.

He added that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was expected to be a special guest of honour at the ceremonial tee-off on Saturday.

Francis Adigwe, the Captain, IBB Tennis Section, said this year’s event was unique as over 60 tennis players would be taking part in the tournament, including the females.

“The tennis section of the club is quite young but we have been making waves with no fewer than 100 active members currently.

“We have decided to organise a huge tennis tournament as part of this year’s Captain’s Cup. We are playing in three categories namely; the Open’s singles, Vetrans’ singles as well as doubles for open and vetrans.

“Also, for the first time in the history of the tournament, we will be having the Ladies Open.

“The tournament promises to be very competitive and is expected to wrap up with the finals on Friday,” he said.