Aimed at celebrating diplomats, diplomacy and travel & tourism, the International Diplomacy Stableford Golf Tournament recently held its third edition at IBB International Golf & Country Club, with about 20 embassies in attendance.
Among the embassies that participated at the annual gathering of the golfing diplomatic community were America, China, South Korea, Britain, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Japan, Austria Trinidad & Tobago, Austria, France and others.
The tournament was teed off by HE Amb. Cul Jian Chun – Ambassador of The People’s Republic of China, HE Amb. Kim Young-Chae – Ambassador of South Korea, HE Amb. Wendell Delandro – Ambassador of Trinidad & Tobago, HE Amb. Buba Tekune – Former Nigerian Ambassador to The Philippines, HE Amb. Laraba Bhutto – Former Nigerian Ambassador to Cuba, HE Amb. Mohammed Kangiwa – Former Minister/Head of the Immigration section of the Nigerian High Commission in London, HE Amb. Kayode Garrick – Former Minister for economic and commercial affairs at the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington DC, and HE Amb. Adamu Emozozo – Former Nigerian Ambassador to Brazil.
The tournament, which fielded about 88 players with about 50 per cent of the players being foreigners, was of shotgun start and Stableford point format. Irma Steyn trumped Jumai Abdulai on countback with 35 Stableford points, to emerge the winner of the ladies category. Emmanuel Adukwu recorded 41 stableford points, making him the winner of the handicap 15-28 men’s category. Otun Temitope outdid Gambo Alli with 39 stableford points on count back, to emerge the runner up. With 1-stableford point, O Igweh outdid Ashley Smit’s 37 points to emerge the winner of the handicap 0-14 category.
For the ladies category, Joy Ikwue drove her shot Nearest To The Pin by 12.1ft to the pin. In the men’s category, Sameer Shukla won Nearest To The Pin prize by 7.1 ft distance to the pin. Irma Steyn and O Igweh won the Longest Drive with 153 meters and 246 meters in the ladies and men’s categories respectively.
Winners were rewarded with business/economy class flight tickets from Air Peace, Rwandair, South African Airways, room-night vouchers from The Envoy Hotel Abuja, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham and N200,000 worth (each) of Cilantro gift vouchers courtesy of Pepsi.
The tournament also witnessed the launch of Afri Diplomat magazine. Afri Diplomat Magazine, which is an offshoot of International Diplomacy Stableford Golf Tournament, is a print and electronic media dedicated to the promotion of personalities, events, happenings and relevant subjects around the African diplomatic community. Its contents span travel, tourism, consular services, diplomacy and diaspora.
Speaking at the tournament, Managing Partner of Run & Tour Africa Advisory, Prince Deji Ajomale-McWord said: “This is certainly the best edition of this tournament so far, and we are super grateful to individuals and brands who participated as players and sponsors. We just can’t get tired of the positive reviews we’ve been getting.”
When asked if the Lagos leg would continue, Prince Deji said, “most definitely. It all started in Ikoyi Club 1938 in 2019 and we intend to continue the tournament in the home of global harmony. Although we will be making a few changes that will be revealed as the date approaches.”