2018 Youth Olympic Games: Oboh, Thompson begin quest for honours in golf
Nigeria will be making a shot at medal as Nigeria’s golf sensations – Georgia Oboh and Jordan Thompson today at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Hurlingham Club in Buenos Aires begin quest for honours.
In the girls’ event, Oboh will battle against 31 others in the two-day qualifying round while 15-year- old Thompson will also slug it with 31 others across the globe.
Being the first time, Nigeria will be competing in the golf event of any Olympic Games, 17-year-old Oboh is in high spirit for the tee-off having been putting finishing touches to her preparation since arriving Argentina on October 1.
South Africa and Nigeria are the two African nations competing in the golf event of the Youth Games and a confident Oboh said she is poised to do Nigeria proud.
“I am in high spirit for the commencement of the golf event and I am eager to enter the course. I am used to the course now. It promises to be exciting because I have seen a lot of good golfers and I am hoping to give my best by making Nigeria proud,” Oboh said.
Oboh and Thompson have been training since their arrival on October 1 and they concluded their training
on Monday October 8 in readiness for the tee-off on Tuesday October 9.
After two days of qualifying round, the top scorers in the boys and girls events will compete in the
final round which tees off on Thursday October 11.
Read Also: Youth Olympics: Team Nigeria departs for Argentina
For the golf event, hosts, Argentina was given a team to compete and a further 5 teams of two athletes
was decided by the Tripartite Commission. The remaining 26 teams were decided by adding the ranking
place of the top ranked eligible male and female golfers on the World Amateur Golf Rankings released on
July 25 2018.
The 26 NOCs with the lowest combined rankings qualified. All athletes must be amateur golfers who hold a recognised handicap index not exceeding 6.4.
Nigeria received a quota of two athletes to compete by the tripartite committee with Thompson competing
in the boys’ individual, while Oboh will battle for honours in the girls’ individual. The duo will partner for the mixed event.