Oyebanji Nips Nigeria Cup, Moves to Abuja

In one of the earlier events of the of the on-going eleventh edition of the Nigerian Cup, England returnee pro, Gboyega Oyebanji blasted home 144 (plus two) to win the 36 holes decider for the professional players saving a whooping ten strokes on the second day.

A win for Oyebanji, the former Nigerian number one at Ikoyi was the least of the expectation from him at the two-day event given the pedigree of the international player on the home front.
On a rain soaked first round the Ikeja Golf Club based youngster carded 77, six over par to stand in joint third position away from Dolphin Club's Francis Ugbong and Nojeem Shofela from MicCom Golf Club who were five and two strokes better respectively.

According to him, "Most of us struggled through the first day because of the rain and of course it was very evident in the scores we returned and so we knew that if the weather was clement the second day score would definitely be the decider"

And it was, as he came from five shots down to win the event leaving early leader Ugbong to grapple with second place four shot from behind him. Peter Akakasiaka finished three shot behind Ugbong to pick the third place in the one million naira invitational play.

Businessday can however reveal that, in other to keep in form, Oyebanji, has decided to temporarily pitch his tenth away from his traditional Lagos home to Abuja where he could access better facility (the IBB International Golf and Country Club).

"I think going to Abuja would do a lot to my game. It was a lesson I learn very hard after I returned from South Africa the other year and chose to stay in Lagos. No matter how much I practice my game depreciated, because there is limit to what the course I reside (ten-hole Ikeja Golf Club) could do to my form.

"For now I believe Abuja would just be it. It is going to be expensive but I need to keep my form than anything else. Especially now that the PGAN Tour is in the corner"

Meanwhile activities for this year's Nigeria Open continues today (Friday) with guests and representatives of the sponsors thronging the 18-hole all green Ikoyi Golf Course in Lagos. Saturday September 29 would see kids (junior members of the club) swing clubs for their round in the weeklong event while other 164 players are billed for final show down on Sunday 30th.

The Nigeria Cup is a community shield organized by Nigerian golf members of the Ikoyi Club to commemorate Nigerian Independence anniversary