Awa Ibraheem 2019: Another feat for David Mark International Golf Academy

It was yet another fantastic outing for the David Mark International Golf Academy at the just concluded Awa Ibraheem Junior Golf Championship held in Ikeja Golf Club, Ikeja, Lagos.The squad arrived a day ahead to practice on the course as they prepared for the competition.The tournament took place between 17th and 19th of October, 2019 and was arranged in line with the World Ranking event requirement of at least 54 holes. It served as one of the National Trials for the All Africa Junior Team Championship, coming up in Egypt, next year.Of the 90 players selected for the event using the Junior National Order of Merit, 21 of our players made the list. Participants were spread across four categories from ages 6-17 years.A total of 20 winners emerged at the end of the event. Of that 20, players of the David Mark International Golf Academy won 13, amounting to 65% of the total number of prizes available to play for.In the boys category, the Academy claimed 1st, 2nd and 3rd in Cat 1, 1st and 3rd in Cat 2 and 2nd in Cat 4.In the girls category, our players claimed 1st in Cat 1, 2nd and 4th in Cat 2, 3rd in Cat 3, 1st, 2nd and 3rd in Cat 4.Beside winning trophies and fantastic prizes, the Academy bagged home a total of N1,800,000 (One Million, Eight Hundred Thousand Naira) worth of academic scholarships.All 1st place winners got 200k each, 2nd place winners got 150k and 3rd place winners got 100k worth of academic scholarships respectively.Here is a detailed analysis of our winners (Otukpo Only):
Overall Winner (Boys) – Godwin OkokoBoys Age 16-17 (Cat 1)
Winner – John Alex — 200k
2nd – Job Obaka — 150k
3rd – Ogoh Aduma — 100kGirls Age 16-17 (Cat 1)
Winner – Rose Amaka — 200kBoys Age 13 – 15 (Cat 2)
Winner – Godwin Okoko — 200k
3rd – Emmanuel Aleji — 100kGirls Age 13 – 15 (Cat 2)
2nd – Janet Alli — 150k
4th – Grace Agbo — TrophyGirls Age 10 – 12 (Cat 3)
3rd – Blessing Adah — 100kBoys Under 9 (Cat 4)
2nd – Austin Peter — 150kGirls Under 9 (Cat 4)
1st – Peace Aduma — 200k
2nd – Anna Okopi — 150k
3rd – Precious John — 100kSpecial mention goes to Godwin Okoko (age 15) who is now the new star of junior golf in Nigeria. Okoko beat John Alex (defending champion and club mate) to emerge overall winner of the event in the second playoff hole as the duo were tied after 54 holes with a gross score of 233 representing 26 over par (course par 69).Recall that the same Godwin Okoko shot 3 under par on Day 2 of the IBB Junior Open Championship in August, 2019 to win the tournament in Abuja.After this second major win in a roll, Okoko is being rated as the hottest teenage golfer in Nigeria. This victory will determine his spot in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, since this year’s edition of Awa Ibraheem tournament was registered with the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland (R&A) as a World Ranking Junior Golf Event.The winners will represent Nigeria in the 2020 All Africa Junior Team Championship in Egypt.Our appreciation goes to Senator David Mark, the sole financier of the Academy over the years for his commitment. On return of the team, he received our players at the club house of Otukpo Golf and Country Club to congratulate them for their wonderful performance at the event and encouraged them to train harder as tougher challenges lie ahead.We would like to thank the sponsor of the tournament, Alhaji Awa Ibraheem for his steadfastness in encouraging junior golfing in Nigeria. Aside availing junior golfers a great opportunity, this magnanimity would have financial burden especially with regards to their education lifted off the shoulders of the winners parent.A very big thank you to the organizers of this year’s event for their hard work towards the success of the tournament.We would also like to thank the coaching crew and officials of the Academy for their effort.Finally, a big thank you also goes to our players for their performance and conduct on and off the course during the competition.Congratulations to all the winners. Go on and make Nigeria proud!