. African Tour, Plateau pledge support
The quality of players that are willing to be part of the inaugural edition of the Ladies Professional Golf Association of Nigeria (LPGAN) championship continues to soar as top African golfers have confirmed their participation in the 72-hole stroke play contest holding at the IBB International Golf and Country Club in Abuja.
According to the initiator of the tour, Uloma Mbuko told NationSport that golfers from Uganda, Tanzania, Cameroun, Ghana, Senegal and Cote d’Ivoire have signed up for the tour, which is aimed at catering for the needs of professional female golfers across the country.
Already, the Africa Golf led by its president, Emile Abessolo has pledged support with the donation of 1000 balls for practice during the tournament.
Also, the Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has promised to support the tour.
“At it is all is set for the tour come February 15 to 18 and things seem to be looking up with more corporate bodies and individuals ready to be part of the tour. We are expected at least 50 professionals and we believe this can spur the interest of female in the sport. Our aim is to bring female golfers together as well as to identify talented young golfers and nurture them to stardom,” she said.
Mbuko, who is also a professional golfer, is hopeful that this effort would help to galvanise support for female professionals as well as inspiring amateur to aim for the top in the sport.
According to Mbuko, the LPGAN intends to help organise qualifying school for female golfers aspiring to become professional and creating a platform for players to forge a strong alliance with their sponsors with the aim of becoming one of the strongest tours in Africa.
For galvanise international support for the ideal, she said that the LPGAN is working with the Ladies Sunshine Tour of South Africa, Ladies European Tour (LET) and Ladies Professional Golfers Association of America (LPGA) in terms of international affiliation and educational upgrading of members.