Georgia Oboh has the chance to become the first Nigerian to qualify for a Major Championship when she tees up in the Jabra Ladies Open tomorrow.
The 17-year-old amateur is at Evian Resort Golf Course in Evian-les-Bains, France, preparing for the 54-hole strokeplay event, which doubles as the European qualifier for the Evian Championship, where there are two spots available.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, she said: “I hope to play well and make the cut, but ultimately to grow as a golfer and a person.
“It’s a great opportunity to play in one of golf’s biggest events. I love the golf course and it would so good for Nigeria to see someone like me make it (to a Major).”
Oboh played in the Jabra Ladies Open last year, before it was elevated to a ‘dual-ranking’ event on the Ladies European Tour (LET) and LET Access Series for the first time.
The British-born talent has already experienced playing in one LET and four LET Access Series events and has recently been honing her skills with coach Sherri Pla at Sand Hill Cranes Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, where she is a student at the Mat Locke Academy.
She says: “I have definitely seen some improvement in my game since the tweaks and I feel that they are going to make the difference.”
The talented teen, who plays off a handicap of +2, picked up the game aged six and started out at Brocket Hall in Welwyn Garden City, England. She was encouraged to pursue her talents when, a year later, the then world No 1, Lorena Ochoa, of Mexico, threw her a golf ball during the Women’s British Open. After spending her first decade in Manchester, she moved to Nigeria aged 10.
Her proudest achievements to date are winning the 2015 US Teen Kids World Championship and qualifying to represent Nigeria at the forthcoming Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires in October, after which she plans to turn professional, with the long-term goal of becoming world No 1.
Aside from golf, Oboh has plenty of other interests, from acro dance to marshal arts and creative writing, with a fictional novel coming soon.
However, if she can achieve her dreams, then her own sporting success has the potential to become the most compelling story of all.
