Nnenna Ahube, Lady Captain of the prestigious Bonny Island Golf Club (BIGC), NigeriaLNG Ltd. has emerged as the winner of the 2023 Nigeria Ladies Open in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ahube, who is from the Eastern zone, finished as the overall winner after playing 251 gross over three days.

Lady Captain Nnenna Ahube, playing handicap (HCP) 12, returned a gross score of 85, 81, and 85 on the three consecutive days totalling 251 gross.

The result saw her triumph over no fewer than 125 lady golfers who competed for the prestigious 2023 Nigerian Ladies Open trophy at the TYB International Golf Resort and Country Club, Abuja.

"I came all the way to represent the Eastern zone, and today, I am taking the trophy home all the way from Abuja to Bonny Island.

"I played with amazing ladies from different golf clubs across the country.

"It was just my lucky day. I mean, it was exhausting, but golf is what it is."

An excited Ahube, however, noted that the course was quite challenging as it was her first experience playing at the TYB International Golf Resort and Club.

She expressed joy that she was able to surmount all the challenges against all odds at the end of a pulsating encounter.

"On the zonal competition, which was my first day, I played six on hole one, but then the three days of the championship, I played pars on them.

"Then we got to hole three where the flag was placed in a very difficult position.

"I saw some people play 12, 14 today, but I made it; I was three on the green and ended up playing out 7.

"So, those were my highlights and most challenging holes on the final day."

Ahube was closely followed by Blessing Obaje from the Northern zone with a total score of 253 over 18 holes in the handicap 0-18 category.

Comfort Adokole with 255 gross and Rita Izoje with 261 gross finished as 1st and 2nd runners-up, respectively.

In the auxiliary prizes, Obioma Elijah shot 230 metres off-tee, which was adjudged as the longest drive on Day 1 while Grace Ogehili, with a 245 metres off-tee effort, won the prize for the longest drive on Day 2.

Also, Angel Ajuzie won the nearest to the pin prize with her 4.2 metres effort on Day 1, while Faith Otunyo won nearest to the pin prize with6.7 metres effort on Day 2.

NAN also reports that Sandra Emina and Igho Ugbehu of the Southern Zone emerged winners of the competition by the four zones.

Sandra Komakech and Blessing Obaje, who both represented the Northern Zone, finished second.

The duo of Helen Ayo and Nnena Ahube of the Eastern Zone settled for the third position, while the pair of Hauwa Adamu and Susan Marcus of the Western Zone finished at the bottom of the log.

In a match past parade, the Northern Zone impressed the judges the most and adjudged the winners, followed by the Eastern Zone in second position.

The Western and Southern Zone finished third and fourth, respectively.

Meanwhile, Evelyn Oyome of Ikeja 1938 Golf Club from the Western Zone emerged as the new president of LGAN.

She takes over from Juliet Monyei-Inyere, who is from the Southern zone, after being duly elected at the end of the association's elective Congress on Saturday in Abuja.

Oyome, who is the current number one ranked female amateur golfer in the country, told NAN that she hoped to build on the successes of her predecessor.

She said continuity would be the focus during her two-year tenure.

"This, for me, is a privilege, and I must say that my predecessor, Juliet Monyei, has done a lot.

"I am actually really surprised and happy for what she has done for the association."

She, however, promised to bring in some new innovations to move the association to greater heights.

"Taking over from her, I made up my mind that we are going to bring in some new innovations by making sure we create a database for the association.

"We are also going to continue working with Ekanem Ekwueme who is a certified R & A World Handicap System (WHS) expert and Trustee for West and Central Africa, to ensure that LGAN's website is up-to-date and our standards in accordance with International best practices.

"We are also going to make sure we rate ourselves and create ranking points for the ladies from number 1 to 50.

"Henceforth, we will be playing 54 holes in Nigeria as part of the requirements of R & A."

She promised to work closely with her committee to further improve the image of the association.

"I can't do it alone. I have a committee, and we will work together to move the association forward, but continuity is key."

Oyome was also elected alongside other new LGAN executives and will be at the helm of affairs for a two-year tenure from 2023 to 2025.

Other new Exco members include Lami Ahmed (Zonal Vice-president North and LGAN 1st Vice-president), Faith Otunyo (Zonal Vice-president, East), Habibah Oyeghe Oyarekhua (Zonal Vice-president, South) and Evelyn Balogun (Zonal Vice-president, West).

The Exco also includes Olatoun Yusuf (Hon. Secretary), Patience Ozoemene (Treasurer), Enene Fonne (Financial Secretary), Angel Ajuzie (Public Relations Officer), and Juliet Monyei-Inyere (Ex-officio).

The 2023 Nigeria Ladies Open, organised by LGAN, began on Thursday and ended on Sunday at the TYB International Golf Resort and Country Club, Abuja.