Isaiah Okonofua and Faeren Kuma emerged as winners of the Tukur Yusuf Buratai (TYB) International Golf Resort and Country Club, Abuja single match play finals in the men and ladies’ category.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the match play trials, which started in 2024, saw the four finalists pass through seven rigorous stages to reach the grand finale on Saturday. The match play event was played alongside the TYB New Year kitty.
The men’s single match play was indeed a very keenly contested battle between Okonofua, playing off handicap 10, and AVM Ladan, who played off handicap 18.
The match went all the way to the final hole with Okonofua one up to emerge the winner of the category.
“I started poorly and was already four down at hole 7., but I told myself that I was going to fight back doggedly. Indeed, the beast in me came out, and I began to play better on the back nine and ended up with the victory at hole 18,” Okonofua said.
In the ladies’ single match play category, Kuma, playing off handicap 35 defeated Sarah Kudi, who played off handicap 25 by two holes with one to go.
Kuma started on the front foot from the front nine but allowed Kudi back in the game, following some nervous moments at the back nine.
She, however, recovered just at the right time to win comfortably with two holes left.
“I started very well and was leading five up before my nerves got the better part of me and my opponent squared. Luckily for me, I was able to regain my confidence at the right time and bounced back two up with one hole to spare. It wasn’t an easy feat, but I thank God for giving me the victory,” she said.
NAN also reports that the pair of Philip Kum and Sam Anyande emerged winners of the TYB men’s double match play category after they defeated the duo of Chile Ushahonba and Stephen Godwin.