Ayuba Izang of Lamingo Golf Club, Jos has emerged as the best player at the PGA Nigeria Qualifying School that was held in Kaduna Golf Club.

The selection process which ended on Friday and featured four rounds of golf was attended by 93 candidates from across the nation.

Izang, a protégé of Lamingo’s resident professional, Samson Lawal, and a National Sports Festival gold medallist, was adjudged the best candidate at the end of the exercise.

Ayuba Izang of Lamingo Golf Club, Jos has emerged as the best player at the PGA Nigeria Qualifying School that was held in Kaduna Golf Club.

The selection process which ended on Friday and featured four rounds of golf was attended by 93 candidates from across the nation.

Izang, a protégé of Lamingo’s resident professional, Samson Lawal, and a National Sports Festival gold medallist, was adjudged the best candidate at the end of the exercise.

PGA Nigeria made available tour cards to 22 players, who were also given the privilege to join the paid ranks as touring professionals.

Such was the high pitch of the contest that after he initially projected 20 slots, the professional increased the intakes after three players finished in joint 20th position.

Okoromin James of Benin Golf Club finished as the second best qualifier, ahead of a clutch of golfers, including Emmanuel Agom from Port Harcourt Golf Club and Bako Kamali from Kano Golf Club.

Agom combined with Izang to win the match play doubles gold medal at the National Sports Festival in Rivers State in 2012, at the expense of the Late Eddie Peters and his partner.

Anyebe Odoh also became the fourth member of the prominent Odoh clan to join the professional ranks-toeing the path of Paul (now deceased), Martin and Oche. Anyebe, who learned how to play golf at Minna Golf Club, finished in 11th position.

One of the main casualties at the Q-School was Bawa Umar, a highly regarded low handicapper, who suffered a meltdown in his second attempt to join the elite pack of professional golfers.

Aside from ability to play golf, the other parametres which the PGAN committee used to evaluate the participants were; speech making, golf equipment mending, knowledge of rules of golf, appearance and leadership traits.

count | 279

Ayuba Izang of Lamingo golf club wins prestigious golf prize