By Victor Okoye

Abuja, Oct. 6, 2023 (NAN) Defending champions Team Nigeria says they are very happy with their opening-round 168 at the ongoing West and Central Africa Challenge Trophy at the exotic Lakowe Lakes Golf Club in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Team Nigeria finished with a nett score of 168 at the end of the first round on Thursday as they began their title defence on a bright note.

The trio of Evelyn Oyome, Jummai Abdullahi and Pat Ozoemena posted a gross score of 82, 86, 87 respectively to place them currently on top of the leaderboard by two shots.

Their closest rivals, Cote d’Ivoire amassed 170 nett with the trio of Awa Kone, Victorine Konan and Kangoute Samita posting a gross score of 84, 86 and 89 respectively.

They are closely followed by Ghana with 173 nett as the trio of Pamela Atila, Bernice Dzitowoko and Mercy Wenner posting a gross score of 86, 87 and 90 respectively.

Nigeria won the 2019 AACT at Ikeja Golf Club with Ekanem Ekwueme who was the then LGAN President as team Captain.

Oyome, Nigeria’s number one ranked lady golfer told NAN that she was happy to have played a key role for the team, after finishing as the top individual player at the end of the first round.

“I have a great team by my side, Jummai and Pat with the President, Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria (LGAN), Juliet Monyei -Inyere as our Captain.

“We also have the Trustee for West and Central Africa, Ekwueme on our team.

“It is indeed a great privilege for me to once again be participating in this tournament and representing my country, Nigeria.

“We are also confident that we can face the challenges of the course and try our best to defend the title and keep it here in Nigeria,” she said.

The handicap 5 player from Ikoyi Club 1938 noted that course management was the key to a good game.

“I tried to stay out of any unnecessary hazards on the course although you cannot avoid it totally.

“Then staying focused and remembering that I am playing for my country,” she said.

Ozoemena on her part said that she was excited that as the hosts they were leading the pack.

She expressed optimism that team Nigeria can keep the pace and maintain the winning momentum so to ensure the trophy remains at home.

“We are hoping for the best as we head into the second round and confident that we can even better than we did in the first round,” she said.

NAN reports that no fewer than 10 countries are taking part in the tournament including; Gabon, Ghana, Togo, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Benin, Senegal and host Nigeria.

The tournament which teed-off on Thursday is expected to end on Saturday.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)