Orton is runner-up to Dlamini in Nigerian Ladies Open Championship

2009 SA Match Play Champion, Swaziland’s Nobuhle Dlamini won the Ladies Open Amateur Championship of Nigeria on a two-over par 148 from South Africa’s Lumien Orton on 150 when the event was played at Abuja on Friday and Saturday 12 and 13 November. Both players were tied on level par after 18 holes.

Senegal’s Oumy Dieye finished in third position, carding 74, 77 (151) with Henriette Frylinck one back on 78, 74 (152).

120 Players participated in the championship – far more social than what the SA players are used to with the hand-outs being the most important part of the event. (See the South African girls pictured below in their hand-outs!).

Fortunately the top players teed off first at 7am and players were still teeing off after 1pm. There were no starters (SA’s Erica Lefson was a self-appointed starter for the top players), no local rules or pin positions but despite this, all players managed to finish without incident.

Day two sprung a surprise to all players when told that there had been a cut and only the top 32 in the A Division would be playing. This did allow prize-giving to be early, enabling the international players to depart on Sunday evening. Even so, despite all players being in by 12.15, prize-giving only commenced at 2.30pm, making it ‘An Amazing Race’ for the South African, Swazi and Ghanaian players to catch their flight from Abuja to Lagos.

The South African team was most grateful for the support of the local SA High Commissioner His Excellency Kingsley Mamabolo and his team – see photo below. The High Commissioners of the SADC (Southern African Development Community) countries hosted a braai at the South African Embassy for the players – they commented that it was great to tuck into a familiar menu again.

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