The 2026 Lakowe Lakes Golf Classic is set to tee off on September 28 at the Lakowe Lakes Golf Course in Lagos, bringing together Nigeria's top professional golfers for three days of intense competition. The event, themed "Nigeria Closed," is supported by Oando PLC and features a N30 million prize purse. Former Lakowe winner Francis Epe will lead the field, competing against Gift Willy, Kamalu Bako, Mohammed Muazu, and Tajudeen Ajayi, among others.
The tournament will be played over 56 holes and includes top female professionals and seniors, such as Bola Mustapha, Rachael Danjuma, Kingsley Oparakwu, Stanley Omenuko, Liman Mohammad, and Lateef Lasisi. Gift Willy believes the two-phase structure of the Lakowe Lakes Golf Classic provides an important platform for Nigerian professionals to rediscover their competitive rhythm. He noted that the event gives players an opportunity to get back into competition mode and find their rhythm on a demanding course like Lakowe Lakes.
Lakowe Lakes Golf Course Manager Femi Olagbenro stated that considerable investment has gone into preparing the facility for the two tournaments. The management aims to provide conditions worthy of the quality of players expected. Olagbenro said the team has worked extensively on the playing surfaces and other areas of the facility to meet the standard required for a championship of this nature.
The Nigeria Closed will serve as the curtain-raiser for the second phase of the Lakowe Lakes Golf Classic, scheduled for October 2-4. This international phase will feature an international field competing for a $50,000 purse, with outstanding performances counting towards World Golf Ranking points. The event is listed on the Sunshine Development Tour and is expected to attract leading professionals from across Africa.
The international phase of the tournament will add another dimension to the event, positioning Lakowe Lakes as an important destination for elite professional golf. With N30 million at stake in the opening event, followed by a $50,000 international contest and valuable ranking points, the 2026 Lakowe Lakes Golf Classic promises a compelling stretch of competitive golf.
The championship is expected to provide an early indication of form among Nigeria's leading professionals, particularly with the second phase following almost immediately. The event will give players a chance to test their skills on a course that has hosted prominent international events in the past.
The 2026 Lakowe Lakes Golf Classic marks a welcome return to action for Nigeria's professional players after a lengthy lull in major professional golf events on the domestic calendar. The tournament's two-phase structure and significant prize purses make it a highly anticipated event in the golfing community.
Key points
- The 2026 Lakowe Lakes Golf Classic features a N30 million prize purse for the Nigeria Closed phase.
- The international phase of the tournament offers a $50,000 purse and World Golf Ranking points.
- The event is expected to attract leading professionals from across Africa.
