By PHILLIP ORWA
The Sunshine Development Tour – West Africa Qualifying School tees off today at Lakowe Lakes Golf Estate in Lagos, Nigeria, marking a significant milestone in the expansion of the Tour’s footprint across the continent.
The three-day, 54-hole tournament, running from April 13 to 15, has attracted a strong field of 62 professional golfers from across West and Central Africa, including entrants from Ghana, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon and host nation Nigeria.
The host nation Nigeria fields a strong lineup including Olalere Olakunle, Jimoh Lukman, Daniel Okon, Gabriel Onyema and Desmond Matthew, all looking to make an impression on home soil.
Ghana’s challenge will be led by Livia Hawah Brito, while Cameroon is represented by players such as Arnaud Djuidje and Jean Claude Biloa. Côte d’Ivoire’s contingent includes Jean N’Guessan and Kouame Kouadio, while Gabon’s Lionel Mba and Togo’s Ayele Djadja add further depth to the regional field.
Players will be competing for top ranking positions and the opportunity to secure status on the Sunshine Development Tour, providing a direct pathway to the Sunshine Tour and broader international opportunities.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, Femi Olagbenro, Golf Manager at Lakowe Lakes Golf Estate, underscored the significance of the event for the region’s golfing landscape.
“This event holds great promise for the development of professional golf in West Africa. It represents a key step in creating structured opportunities for players in the region and opening doors to global competition.
We see the Sunshine Development Tour Qualifying School becoming a permanent fixture on our calendar, as part of our broader commitment to growing the game and elevating its visibility across the region.” he said.
The West Africa Q-School follows the recently concluded East Africa edition held at Limuru Country Club in Kenya, where amateur Ali Wasim emerged winner after a composed four-round performance to top the leaderboard at level par. He finished ahead of John Karichu and American Andrew Procter, who tied for second place on 2-over par 290.
With growing participation and increasing regional interest, the Lagos leg is expected to further strengthen the Tour’s role as a critical development platform, as players look to take the next step in their professional journeys.
