It was all excitement as over 450 amateur golfers from within and outside the state converged on Jos for the week-long 7th edition of the Governor Simon Bako Lalong Governors cup tourney.
There was excitement as the participants carted away prizes at the end of the golf competition which took place at the Lamingo Golf Course in Jos, with the star prize of a car won by Mike Ubi.
Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong, and initiator of the yearly golf tournament while presenting prizes to winners of the different categories pledged to sustain the game of Golf through continuous sponsorship of the Governor’s Cup Golf Competition even after leaving Office.
He presented the Star Prize, a Toyota Corolla car to winner of the 2022 Governor’s Golf Cup Competition, Mike Ubi, stressing that the game is a boost to the tourism potentials of the state.
Winners of the different categories including males, females, veterans, and amateurs were seen carting away prizes ranging from deep freezers and home appliances at the end of the tournament.
Lalong congratulated the winners and participants in the competition and said the game had opened more opportunities for the socio-economic growth of the State.
He urged those who lost to try harder to win in next year’s edition promising to sustain the competition even after leaving office.
“When we started the Governor’s cup, people thought we will not sustain it, but we have organised it for the last seven years. I want to assure you that though this is the last tournament to hold with me as governor, I will ensure we continue to organise this even when I am out of office”.
He assured that as head of the Northern Governors Forum and Director General of the APC Tinubu /Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, he will ensure another golf tournament that will bring golfers to cement relationship across boundaries is organised.
Captain of Lamingo Golf Club, Reverend Father Blaise Agwom, appreciated the Governor for renovating the golf course and sponsoring the tournament consecutively for seven years.
In his remarks, Star Prize winner, Mike Ubi, of the Python Golf Club Port Harcourt appreciated Governor Lalong for
encouraging the game of golf in the country and making his dream of winning a car come true on the Plateau.
The winner promised to mentor others and used the forum to appreciate supporters of his over 26 years of active play.
Earlier, the Governor was joined by the Former Chief of Army Staff, Major General Tukur Buratai to inaugurate the remodeled Club House.
Lalong had also earlier performed the Tee-off where he said aside using the forum to paint the true picture of the state to the world, hosting the yearly competition is a great economic boost and place for discovering new talents.
