80 KIDS BATTLE FOR NTDC GOLF TOURNEY TOP PRIZE

No fewer than 80 kids yesterday took part in the maiden edition of the annual Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) Children's Day Golf Tournament held at the IBB Golf International Golf and Country Club.

The one-day fiesta, was rounded up yesterday, also included a clinic for kids at the club's Range.

Speaking to reporters at the tee off ceremony, NTDC Director General, Otunba Segun Runsewe, who described golf as big business, said the aim of the fiesta is to pick young golfers at tender age to groom for international competitions.

Besides the fiesta, which he said would be staged every year, Runsewe announced plans by the NTDC to build two greens in one school each in all the six geo-political zones of the country as part of efforts to develop the sport and ensure that Nigeria takes the chunk of benefits that comes from the sport to Africa.

IBB Club resident golfer and Nigeria's only female professional golfer Oloma Mbuko said the tournament which is in two categories, would afford Nigeria the opportunity of raising golfers at tender age to be able to win laurels for the country at global stage.

In addition to the Children's Day Golf Tournament, she said there will be holiday clinic and tournament to expose the kids to the rudiments of the game.

Four of the participating kids, Olivia Horst Rocholl, Otah Okaisabor and Anu Mosuro, who spoke to our reporter promised to make maximum use of the opportunity to realize their dreams of becoming world beaters in the game.