Mercy Yohanna claimed victory in the ladies' division of the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Golf Club's 2nd Quarter Medal Kitty, recording a net score of 65 to top a field of 121 competitors at the club's course on NAF Base Bill Clinton Drive, Abuja. Playing with a handicap of 26, Yohanna posted a gross score of 91, outperforming Susan Marcus, who finished second with a net score of 72, and PC Ajayi, who took third with 73. The event, held over the weekend, saw strong performances across multiple categories. In the men's division for players with handicaps between 15 and 28, MA Mamman won best net with a score of 67, ahead of Makrop Datu on 70. For men with handicaps 0 to 14, Tunji Adeleye took best net with 68, edging E. Okundaye on countback after both returned 70. SM Bello won Best Gross in the men's category with a score of 80. Among veterans, John Mrabure scored a net 71 to claim top spot, while Musa Shaibu followed with 73. In the guests' category, Fred Oghoyone won best net on countback after tying 68 with Victor Garba, who finished second. Patience Abba recorded a net 73 to win best net among female guests. Auxiliary prizes included Nankyer N, who won Best Dressed, Ekpo IE, who claimed Longest Drive for men with 215 metres, and Dorcas Malle, who won the ladies' longest drive with 195 metres. Yohanna, who has won over 20 trophies in her career, said consistent practice and course familiarity were key to her success. "Okay, I feel great and excited to be crowned the Ladies' Champion once again. It's all about practice for me. Whenever I have a tournament coming up, I make sure I familiarize myself with the course beforehand," she said. She added, "I have won more than 20 trophies so far, and I am determined to come back even stronger and better. Fans should expect more victories from me."
|||NAJABUZZ_TAKE||| Mercy Yohanna says her success comes from practice and preparation, yet won with a handicap of 26, raising questions about how such a high handicap aligns with championship performance. She remains the only named winner with more than 20 career trophies, suggesting a consistent edge over competitors in the same field. Her stated focus on improvement contrasts with the gap between her and runners-up, who recorded net scores seven and eight points higher. This win reinforces her dominance in a competition that draws over 120 entrants regularly.
A woman playing with a 26 handicap shoots a gross score of 91 and wins top prize in a field of 121—yet the men's division is only just being mentioned, as if their struggle with lower handicaps matters more. If Mercy Yohanna can win with a 26 handicap, why do most Nigerian sports conversations still treat golf as a game for polished elites, not gritty overachievers? The real story isn't the trophy—it's how a sport seen as reserved for the privileged quietly celebrates a woman who turned a supposed disadvantage into dominance. What other talents are we missing because we're too busy gatekeeping who deserves to shine?
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