ILORIN – No fewer than 35 professional golfers would feature in the 7th Yolas Invitational Pro-Am Open Golf tournament scheduled for between June 20 and 21 at the Ilorin Golf Club.
Lanre Sagaya, the Managing Partner, Yolas Consultant, the sponsors of the tournament, said at a news conference on Friday in Ilorin that the tournament would continue to hold at the Ilorin Golf Club.
“The venue of the tournament remains Ilorin Golf Club which has been hosting the tournament from its inception in 2000.
“This is because the company wants participants to come and see the beauty of the Kwara capital and also want the tournament to attract investors to the state in general.
“I want people to come and see what Ilorin looks like. I want people to come and invest in this town.
“Participants always want to comeback, so there is no amount of money we spend on the tournament that can match the targeted achievement.
“The course is ready and can compete with any other one in the country
“We want to make a statement this time; this year’s tournament will be the first time that it will be played in all green course,’’ Sagaya said.
He commended the state government for the greenish colour of the course.
Sagaya added that professionals in the tournament would tee off the tournament on June 20 while amateurs games are scheduled for June 21.
According to him, the professional winner will take home N500,000, the runner-up, N200,000, while the amateurs will play for fun.
He hinted that the tournament in two years would herald a bigger event and that the proceeds from the tournament would be donated to a foundation.
Gboyega Oyebanji won the inaugural edition in 2000 while Jide Allen won the second and the third editions in 2005 and 2008 respectively.
Yinka Jaiyeola from Maicom Golf Club, Ada, Osun won the fourth edition in 2009, Ade Ojo in 2010, while Allen staged a comeback in 2012 for a record third time victory. (NAN)
