200 golfers to take part in first ever female LPGAN tourney

The maiden edition of the Ladies Professional Golfers Association of Nigeria (LPGAN) will tee off in Abuja with 200 golfers.

The golfers will be competing in the professional, category 1 and 2 and invited guests categories.

The professionals and category 1 and 2 amateur players will compete in over 72 holes, while the guests will feature in 36 holes.

Uloma Mbuko, secretary of the board of trustees of LPGAN, said 15 female professional golfers have registered for the competition.

Some of the pros include Ivory Coast duo of Vivian Kouame and Chantal Behibro, Miriam Ndiaye of Senegal, Dambaki Micah, Ogieva Manteau, Obomanu Assisi Judith, Wesley Folasade Sharon and Juliet Ayodele from Nigeria.

Mboku said Flavia Namakula of Uganda and golfers from South Africa will not be participating because the LPGAN event clashes with some major tournaments in their respective countries.

“We projected for over 50 professionals but South African players will not be joining us as they are having their South African Ladies Open,”Mboku said.

“They will join us in our subsequent events.

“As our inaugural event with a limited field, we are not too particular about prize money.”

Okwesilieze Nwodo, chairman of LPGAN board of trustee, said the association is a platform for ladies to seek equal opportunities for women in golf.

“By forming this association in Nigeria, we have opened our door for all lady golfers in West Africa to benefit,” Nwofor said.

“In Nigeria, we have the men professional golfers association for years now and no female professional body.

“Indeed it is so sad that in Nigerian golf courses, there is no tee off point for ladies professional golfers, because there is no association to take care of their interests.

“This is a veritable platform to harness the talent of our ladies.”