Except for the brilliant level par carding by returning Tour card seeker, Paul Patrick of Shagamu Golf Club, in Ogun State, the 2011 of Qualifying School session in Asaba is a tough nut for the filed of 64 players vying for the twelve spots available.
Patrick, who has had an unforgiving 78, on the first round of the four-day schedule calmly strode the bunker littered Ibori Golf and Country Club on the second day fr the level par (72), that has now become the talking point and has set him as the hottest favorite to pick the one of the spots.
Tournament Director of the PGA, Dominic Andrew said that he understands why Patrick’s score is rated high, “Asaba (course) recent setting has easily made it one of the most challenging course in the country, even when the Tour players are here a level par score places you comfortably in the top ten, and coming from him shows he can do better:” The “Qualifying School” is the PGA of Nigeria entry tournament for top amateur into the professional rank and it is organized biennially.
This years edition taking place in Asaba has 64 players from across the country in attendance who have relinquished their amateur status and are hoping to pick one of the twelve spots that the PGA has pegged will be admitted this year. Another player that has shown some measure of promise is Ajiboye Taju from Ilorin Golf Club.
Taju led the first round with 76, four over par, but his trainer Friday Adache believes he is a good material that can add quality, character and skill to the Tour field if he scales the four day test.
He said, “In Ilorin, we have great respect for him and there is no denying that he would bring a lot of quality, character and skill to our profession” Meanwhile as the returns for most the players become highly uncertain on the field of play, they are now banking on the score that the garner from other aspects other than playing ability. The players are also tested in practical sessions that include knowledge of the rules, presentation and club repairs, the association explains that an all rounded member will be more relevant for the development of the game in the country now.
Dayo Oderinde, one of the Tour card seeker in Asaba has, however been expelled from the trials in Asaba after he was penalized for misconduct at one of the sessions, the assessors, said, “there was no point leaving him to go ahead, he lacked character and the test was over for him as soon as we saw that in him” The “Qualifying School” would be rounded up with the successful players paired in a Pro-Am billed with host club members.
Patrick, who has had an unforgiving 78, on the first round of the four-day schedule calmly strode the bunker littered Ibori Golf and Country Club on the second day fr the level par (72), that has now become the talking point and has set him as the hottest favorite to pick the one of the spots.
Tournament Director of the PGA, Dominic Andrew said that he understands why Patrick’s score is rated high, “Asaba (course) recent setting has easily made it one of the most challenging course in the country, even when the Tour players are here a level par score places you comfortably in the top ten, and coming from him shows he can do better:” The “Qualifying School” is the PGA of Nigeria entry tournament for top amateur into the professional rank and it is organized biennially.
This years edition taking place in Asaba has 64 players from across the country in attendance who have relinquished their amateur status and are hoping to pick one of the twelve spots that the PGA has pegged will be admitted this year. Another player that has shown some measure of promise is Ajiboye Taju from Ilorin Golf Club.
Taju led the first round with 76, four over par, but his trainer Friday Adache believes he is a good material that can add quality, character and skill to the Tour field if he scales the four day test.
He said, “In Ilorin, we have great respect for him and there is no denying that he would bring a lot of quality, character and skill to our profession” Meanwhile as the returns for most the players become highly uncertain on the field of play, they are now banking on the score that the garner from other aspects other than playing ability. The players are also tested in practical sessions that include knowledge of the rules, presentation and club repairs, the association explains that an all rounded member will be more relevant for the development of the game in the country now.
Dayo Oderinde, one of the Tour card seeker in Asaba has, however been expelled from the trials in Asaba after he was penalized for misconduct at one of the sessions, the assessors, said, “there was no point leaving him to go ahead, he lacked character and the test was over for him as soon as we saw that in him” The “Qualifying School” would be rounded up with the successful players paired in a Pro-Am billed with host club members.