-By Saidu Abubakar
Ahmed Bawa has emerged champion of the one-day NNPC Downstream Golf Tournament hosted by the Kaduna Golf Club-1921 on Saturday, October 19, 2019.
He carted home the tournament’s most prestigious trophy during presentation of prizes. Bawa was the overall best nett winner after netting 66 over 18 holes.
The tournament which featured golfers in various categories also saw Andrew Chechet winning the Men’s best gross trophy after a count back on Raymond Yaki. Both players had tied on 76 gross each, hence the count back to decide winner.
In the Ladies’ category, Iveren Achir grossed 85 to lift the category’s trophy. In the KGC/NNPC Guest Category handicap 0 – 28, (Men), Aminu Saidu recorded 67 to clinch the category’s prize, after count back on Sunday Dalyop who also recorded 67 to emerge as runner-up. The second runner-up nett winner was Gabriel A. with 68 after count back on Idris Maru.
Other winners in the category include best nett winner – Simon Iliya (74); runner-up – Omonohio Godfrey Osas (75) and second runner-up was Mamman Musa A.
NNPC Players (Ladies) handicap 0 – 36 were not left behind as best nett winner of the category was Richard Obioha Maru-Rose with a score of 78, while runner-up was Abangwu Obioma recorded 84. Ogechi A. recorded 88 to emerge as second runner-up.
In the Ladies’ Category 2 Handicap 20 – 36, the best nett winner was Loud Hananiya, after count back on Hussein A. jibril when both of them netted 68, thereby leaving Justina Gideon who netted 72 to the second runner-up position to also clinch a prize.
In the Ladies’ Veterans Category, Grace Yanet was The best nett winner with 89 to smile home with a prize.
There were auxiliary prizes awarded which included Longest Drive (Hole 18) which Lizzy Samuel won, as Saturday Otubor picked the Men’s. Nearest to The Pin (Hole 6) winner was Gambo Peter for the Men whole Iveren Achir won the Ladies’.
NNPC Staff’s Longest Drive (Hole 18) Men’s prize was won by Alexander Peter Aku. The Nearest the Pin (Hole 6) winner was Kama Agnes.
The tournament was so generous as even the Caddies were not left behind as Kaduna’s Samuel Everest grossed 79 to emerge as the best gross winner of the junior category. Nasiru Yahaya from Zaria recorded 80 to win the runner-up prize.
In the senior category, the best gross winner was Kaduna’s Theophilus Thomas who recorded 75, while Shehu Usman, also of Kaduna, clinched the runner-up prize with smiles.
Pursuant to its unalloyed efforts towards enhancing its corporate social responsibilities, sponsors of the tournament, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has assured of its resolve to continue to deliver value across the entire value chain of the Oil and Gas Industry for the benefit of Nigerians and other stakeholders.
A release by the Acting Group General Manager, the Group Public Affairs Division of the NNPC, Mr. Samson Makoji, stated that Group Managing Director of the corporation, Mallam Mele Kyari, disclosed this shortly after teeing-off the 2019 NNPC Downstream Golf Tournament at the Kaduna Golf Club.
“As you all know, NNPC is an enabler organisation for the nation’s economy. It will continue to deliver value to its stakeholders and especially its various host communities,” Kyari stated.
According to the GMD, the corporation’s motto: “…We touch your lives in many positive ways”, underscored NNPC’s commitment to supporting its host communities.
He also assured the Golf Club of the corporation’s willingness to, as a responsible corporate citizen, support community development efforts within and around its host communities through its various Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
Mallam Kyari, who described Kaduna as a very strategic state for the NNPC, maintained that the national oil company has over 2,000 employees living and working in the town, contributing their quota towards national development.
He commended the Club for providing a befitting sporting atmosphere where NNPC employees, like several other people within Kaduna and environs, could keep fit and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Earlier in his remarks, the Captain of the Club, Alh. Idris Sa’eed, thanked the NNPC for its support to the Club over the years.
He said the Club would continue to partner corporate entities towards encouraging more Nigerians to take to golf for their personal fitness and healthy living.