Nigeria’s top golfer, Sunday Olapade, lit up the greens over the weekend, as he claimed the professional round title at the 2025 Lakowe Lakes Golf Classic. Olapade carded a superb ten-under par over 54 holes, sealing victory in style.
Golf Manager of Lakowe Lakes Golf and Country Estate, Femi Olagbenro, hailed the champion’s brilliance, noting how close he came to breaking the course record set by Ghana’s Vincent Torgah.
‘I believe every player showing up at Lakowe Lakes Golf Club puts in an extra effort to match the pedigree of the course and the tough field that is always on parade at each Lakowe Lakes Golf Classic event,’ Olagbenro said.
The 2025 edition drew West Africa’s golfing elite, including Ghanaian stars Emos Korblah and Barry Yaw, alongside Nigeria’s Oche Odoh, Kamalu Bako, Gift Willy, Godwin Okoko, Michael Ubi, and Francis Epe.
Backed by major sponsors including Oando Nigeria, GAC Motors, Providus Bank, ARM Holding Company, Mixtafrica, Newmark, and International Breweries, the competition lived up to its reputation for intensity.
Olapade posted rounds of 69, 65, and 72, finishing five strokes clear of runner-up Emos Korblah. His victory earned him a ?5 million purse plus an additional ?2.5 million ARM Champion bonus, bringing his total prize to ?7.5 million.
Reflecting on the triumph, Olapade said he was glad to see his efforts crowned with success.
‘This is a very satisfying win, given the effort I have put into my game in the past few months. I have just come back from a training round in Kenya. It’s been a very challenging routine, which is why this is satisfying. I want to thank everyone who has supported me this while, and believe in me.’
In the same vein, young talent Godwin Okoko also made headlines with a third-place finish in the professional round. He then inspired his amateur teammates – Ikechukwu Boniface, David Maji, and Frances Omaruaye – to victory in the Team Event.
The runner-up team, led by Kingsley Oparaku, featured Roland Alexander, Terry Paul, and Abe Ayodeji.
At the closing ceremony, Deji Alli, Chairman of Lakowe Lakes Golf Estate, reflected on the wider significance of the tournament.
‘The game of golf has impacted on my person, and outlook of business for Lakowe Lakes project, despite the challenges of running a world-class facility like Lakowe Lakes Golf Club,’ Alli said.