Nigeria's Top Golfers Gear Up for Lakowe Classic

Nigeria’s top professional golfers are getting ready to compete again at home. The 2026 Lakowe Lakes Golf Classic starts on Monday, September 28, at the Lakowe Lakes Golf Course in Lagos.

After a long break from big golf events in Nigeria, the first part of the classic, called “Nigeria Closed,” will bring together some of the best players in the country. They will compete for three days with support from Oando PLC.

Leading the pack is former Lakowe winner Francis Epe. Other top players like Gift Willy, Kamalu Bako, Mohammed Muazu, and Tajudeen Ajayi will also be in the mix, all ready to fight for top spots on one of Nigeria’s toughest courses.

The tournament will also feature top female golfers and seniors. Players like Bola Mustapha and Rachael Danjuma will join Kingsley Oparakwu, Stanley Omenuko, Liman Mohammad, and Lateef Lasisi for the opening.

The Nigeria Closed runs from September 28 to 30. It will take place over 56 holes, and there is a ₦30 million prize purse to attract players back to the local scene.

For Gift Willy, this tournament is more than just a chance to win money. He thinks the two-part structure of this year’s Lakowe Lakes Golf Classic helps Nigerian golfers find their competitive spirit again.

“It is exciting to have an event of this size bringing the professionals together again. The two phases give us a chance to get back into competition mode and find our rhythm, especially on a course like Lakowe Lakes, which requires a lot from every part of your game.

“Lakowe has hosted important international events before, so playing here gives us the kind of challenge we need before the international phase of the Classic,” Willy said.

This championship is likely to show how well Nigeria’s top golfers are playing, especially since the second international part of the event is coming up soon after.

Femi Olagbenro, the manager of Lakowe Lakes Golf Course, said they have invested a lot to prepare the course for the two tournaments. The management wants to provide the right conditions for the high-quality players expected.

“We have made significant investments in getting the course ready for these events. Our team has worked hard on the playing surfaces and other areas because we know the standard needed for a championship like this.

“Our goal is to provide a course that challenges the players while also showing off the quality of golf facilities that we have at Lakowe Lakes,” Olagbenro said.

The Nigeria Closed will kick off the second phase of the Lakowe Lakes Golf Classic, which is set for October 2 to 4. This final tournament is part of the Sunshine Development Tour and will feature international players competing for a $50,000 prize. Top performances will also count for World Golf Ranking points.

The international phase is expected to draw top professionals from across Africa, adding more excitement to a tournament that is making Lakowe Lakes a key spot for elite professional golf.