NAN-S-5
Golf
By Olanrewaju Akojede
Lagos, Oct. 19, 2017 (NAN) Joseph Harvey, the Head Coach of St David Mark Golf Academy and Country Club, says he is eyeing new records at the upcoming 2017 Awa Ibrahim Junior Golf Open Championships.
Harvey told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos that the club would not only surpass its previous record, but also set new records in the annual championships.
The championships, now in its 4th edition, will hold from Oct. 19 to Oct. 21 at the Ikeja Golf Course, where no fewer than 300 golfers will compete for honours.
On the academy’s preparation for the championships, Harvey said that all the necessary logistics to win a championships of such magnitude were already in place.
NAN reports that the academy is being sponsored by former Senate President, David Mark, a well-known golfer, for the less privileged that are desirous of playing golf.
The academy located at Akpegede in Benue State and which has a 20-hole golf course, was established in 2012.
The academy last year at the same competition produced a superlative display to the admiration of spectators where its young golfers won 12 of the 15 medals available.
“Ours is basically a golf academy, we do nothing, but play golf. Our golfers are also on scholarships; the academy has given everybody desirous of playing golf the needed leverage.
“They have the right exposure to the game and they can compete here in Nigeria and abroad, we are the cradle of golf academy in Nigeria.
“We expect to do well in this type of competition due to our pedigree and to confirm our superiority,’’ the coach said.
Harvey told NAN that the vision of the academy was to be the most respected golf academy in Africa, hence the need to prove their mettle at competitions like the Awa Ibrahim Championships.
“Going by the vision of the academy, we hope to become a well-respected golf academy and the hub of the game in Africa in the next three years.
“The academy’s vision will, however, be put to test in competitions like this to justify our ratings and expose the young golfers to the necessary competition that will help them to grow.
“Some of the students are still enjoying the scholarships provided by the organisers of Awa Ibrahim last year and this has been the motivation for others.
“We are training hard for this championships and we are coming with 20 players and four officials and the children are very enthusiastic about the competition,’’ he said. (NAN)
KOJE/EROPDE
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(Edited by Emmanuel Okara/Peter Ejiofor)