As reported by Daily Trust, no fewer than 280 golfers from across the country are set to gather in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, for the launch of the ICMA Pro-Am Golf Open tournament.

Captain of the Ilorin Golf Club, Jide Allen, revealed this during a press briefing on Monday, noting that the competition welcomes both professional and amateur golfers.

According to Allen, the four-day tournament, which excludes the designated arrival and departure days, is scheduled to commence with a tee-off on Thursday at the 18-hole Ilorin Golf Club course. He added that this event marks the fourth golf open hosted by the club’s current management.

Allen also highlighted that Nigeria's top-ranking golfer, Sunday Olapade, will lead a lineup of distinguished professional players from around the country, bringing further prestige to the tournament.

According to him, “this remarkable milestone further cements Ilorin Club’s status as a leading golf destination within the country attracting players from far and wide.

“The tournament promises a diverse lineup of players, ranging from seasoned professionals to enthusiastic amateurs in Category 1, Veterans and Ladies”, he noted.

He said ICMA, a renowned golf supporter, demonstrated its commitment to the sport with the donation of a tractor for the maintenance of the Ilọrin golf course.

“ICMA has further allocated a substantial prize fund of N15 million across various categories, underscoring their dedication to fostering the growth of golf in Nigeria”.

Allen, who called on government and other cooperative bodies to key into golf sponsorship, debunked insinuations that the sport is elitist.