By Steve Oma-Ofozor
Yenagoa
Georgia Oboh Nigeria’s only female professional on the Ladies European Tour (LET) has thrown her weight behind the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) of Nigeria on the Qualifying School programme for women aspiring to become professional golfers.
The UK-based lady professional made the remark in a statement conveyed by her manager and father Geoffrey Oboh on Thursday May 26, while wishing the ladies ‘best of luck’ and congratulating them for the bold step taken to improve on their chosen career.
The Qualifying School special edition tagged, “Women Inclusiveness,” taking place at the Henry Seriaki Dickson Golf and Country Club (HSDGCC) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital has 17 ladies swinging to be among the ‘lucky’ 10 needed by the association.
Oboh however, hailed the association for its great innovative move and also for its foresight in growing the game of golf in Nigeria .
“I am sure that this move will not only inspire the lady professionals, but also increase the number of juniors that will take up the game,” she said.
She emphasised the need for the development of the lady professionals as they are usually closer to the juniors and especially, the girls going by her experience.
This is against the backdrop that she was introduced to the game by her father who was introduced by her grandmother, who places a lot of emphasis on the lady golfers.
“In fact, the first ever award I won was for helping in lady golf clinics, an area that I’m passionate about,” she recalled.
Going into memory lane, she revealed that her mother who was variously Club Champion and District Champion in Bury UK has had a major role in her coaching and golf development and has inspired her to keep on striving for better.
She said also that her ‘grandma’ was also a huge influence in her mental well being and she credited her for her stamina to keeping her positive and keep on going whatever the results she’s had.
Oboh also believes that the growth and development of the lady professionals would produce a great uptake in the game across the country as women are a great resource and currently underutilised, “women are naturally great teachers and great motivators.”
“One of my best teachers in the game has been my lady coach Sheri Pla in Florida who is both PGA and LPGA qualified. As a lady , she understands my biomechanics better being a lady herself,” she enthused.
In this regard, the Edo State-born international professional implored the PGA of Nigeria to continue to lead the growth and development of the game as her dream is to have some companions from Nigeria join her on tour very soon .
Oboh, a dedicated Christian in her usual characteristics quoted the Bible from Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10 paraphrasing, “Two are better than one,” adding that “on tour we have ladies from same countries caddying for each other, sharing accommodation costs, food costs, among variables.”
“I eagerly await one or more to join me on this exciting and great adventure.
“With that said, I wish all the ladies Gods fortune and good luck in the school and once again, I congratulate them for taking this bold step to their future,” she concluded.
