Date: 2017-11-06

Professional golfers will converge on the Ilorin Golf Club from Monday for the practice round ahead of the 5th Kwara Open which tees-off on Tuesday.

The Director of the Professional Golfers' Association of Nigeria, Samson Lawal, assured that top-ranked Nigerian professionals would be available for the 72-hole championship.

"We are glad Kwara Open is making its return to our calendar. We thank Governor (Abdufattah) Ahmed for keeping to his words, during the closing ceremony of Kwara at 50 Open Golf tournament, to revive the event," Lawal said.

"I believe the peace that exists in the state and the hospitality of the good people of Kwara State would be factors that will pull our members down for this event."

The tournament would be a ranking event, where professionals will be looking to pick up points for ranking on the PGA of Nigeria's Order of Merit.

The event is sponsored by the BUA Group, Sterling Bank Plc, Medview Airlines, Airtel and the Kwara State Government.

Top among players expected at the event include, Sunday Odegha, the nation's number one ranked golfer and OcheOdoh, Nigeria's only player with world ranking points.

Others are Daniel Pam, former number one player and winner of the maiden IMEGA regional qualifier, Sunday Olapade and homeboys Mustapha Aminu and Kabiru Mohammed.

Top category one players would also feature along with professional players, while category two players, veteran players, ladies and guest players would wrap up the event on Saturday and Sunday after 36 holes round of play in their respective categories.

Organiser of the event, LuqmanOwolewa, informed that the event has generated interest across West Africa.

"We have entries for the event from some countries including Ghana and Togo among others and we would be glad to host them and further establish Kwara State as the golf hub in the region," he said.

Captain of the club, Lai Maliki, said the course is in good shape and the club facilities are ready to host golfers for the week.