By KPC Sports Reporter
The Sunshine Development Tour – West Africa Qualifying School has teed off at Lakowe Lakes Golf Estate in Lagos, marking a key milestone in the Tour’s continued expansion across the continent.
The three-day, 54-hole tournament, running from April 13 to 15, has drawn a strong field of 62 professional golfers from across West and Central Africa. Competitors hail from Ghana, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Togo and host nation Nigeria.
Nigeria leads the home challenge with a solid lineup featuring Olalere Olakunle, Jimoh Lukman, Daniel Okon, Gabriel Onyema and Desmond Matthew, all aiming to capitalise on familiar conditions.
Ghana’s hopes rest on Livia Hawah Brito, while Cameroon is represented by Arnaud Djuidje and Jean Claude Biloa.
Côte d’Ivoire fields Jean N’Guessan and Kouame Kouadio, with Gabon’s Lionel Mba and Togo’s Ayele Djadja adding further depth to the regional competition.
Players are competing for top finishes and the opportunity to earn status on the Sunshine Development Tour, a proven pathway to the Sunshine Tour and broader international exposure.
Speaking ahead of the event, Golf Manager at Lakowe Lakes Golf Estate, Femi Olagbenro, said the tournament is pivotal for regional golf development.
“This event holds great promise for the development of professional golf in West Africa,” he said.
“It represents a key step in creating structured opportunities for players and opening doors to global competition.”
He added that the Qualifying School is expected to become a regular fixture, reinforcing efforts to grow and elevate the sport across the region.
The West Africa edition follows the East Africa Q-School held in Kenya, where amateur Ali Wasim topped the leaderboard at level par after a composed performance at Limuru Country Club.