Cheers, excitement and applause filled the air on Sunday, October 18, as the maiden Faldo GolfView Junior Golf Championship 2026 came to a close.
The host club, Ikeja Golf Club, and sponsor of the tournament, Chairman of GolfView Suites and Conference Centre, Elder (Dr.) Gabriel Olowo, lauded the stellar performance of the players.
“I’m overwhelmed by the wonderful performance from these kids – good play, fantastic scores; most especially is the success of the championship,” Olowo said.
Speaking in a celebratory mood with a song of praise – “What can I say unto thee, O Lord, all I have to say is thank you, Lord…,” he expressed satisfaction with the successful organisation of the championship by the Local Organising Committee (LOC) headed by grassroots development icon and former Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF) Youth Development Director, Emy Ekong.
Corroborating the sponsor, Captain of Ikeja Golf Club, Segun Odunuga, commended the players and the success of the maiden edition, affirming that the club will always provide its facilities for golf programmes, particularly grassroots development.
President of the Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria (LGAN), Dr. Lami Onayi Ahmed, who was present throughout, described the partnership between Faldo and GolfView as a welcome development that should be sustained.
“If Nigeria must get it right in golf as it is in football, basketball and other thriving sports, then it has to start with good grassroots development; that is what we are witnessing today. I am very impressed with the performance put up by the kids. We need more of this programme from other well-meaning Nigerians. I commend Faldo and GolfView for this wonderful championship and the partnership should be sustained,” she said.
According to the sponsor, Elder Gabriel, all winners are guaranteed to represent Nigeria at the Faldo Junior Golf Championship in Saudi Arabia in April 2027.
The pulsating three-day event saw Joshua John of TYB International Golf Resort and Country Club emerge overall winner. In the Under-21 boys category, he shot 72, 71, 76 for a gross score of 219 (+12) over 54 holes.
John was the cynosure of all eyes from Day 1 to the end. His score on the challenging Ikeja course impressed the organisers, with his participation in the forthcoming Faldo Junior Golf Championship in Saudi Arabia said to be firmly guaranteed.
Second position in the Under-21 boys category went to Oluwatosin Usman of Ikeja Golf Club, who played an eagle on hole 18 on the final day. He shot 76, 73, 79 for a gross of 228 (+21) over 54 holes. He was overwhelmingly celebrated by fans and Ikeja Club members – carried him shoulder-high from the course to the prize presentation hall for making them proud.
In the Under-21 girls category, Christy Obomanu of SBA Golf Club, Port Harcourt, emerged winner. Obomanu, 19, a third-year student of the Sports University in Delta State, shot 91, 81, 90 for a gross of 262 (+55). Beatrice Onoja of Lamingo Golf Club, Jos, came second with 90, 87, 87 for a gross of 264 (+57).
The Under-16 categories produced mixed fortunes. In the boys category, Lewis Ikeji Dandyson of Sealord Golf Club, Port Harcourt, produced the best result of the championship, shooting -2 on the final day. Over 54 holes, he shot 80, 75, 67 for a gross of 222 (+15). He was trailed by Mathew Ayi of NIPSS Golf Club, Kuru, near Jos, who played 75, 72, 85 for a gross of 232 (+25).
In the Under-16 girls category, Josephine Benjamin of IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja, who was not initially in contention, produced a scintillating performance to overturn the leaderboard on the final day. She shot 93, 84, 79 for a gross of 256 (+49) over 54 holes.
Second position in the Under-16 girls category went to Omowonuola Olarenwaju, also of IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja, who led until the last day before capitulating after an OB. She shot 86, 90, 84 for a gross of 260 (+53) over 54 holes, ending the list of winners of the championship.