By; Sunny Canto
Astonishing performance as Princewill Albert dominated the Golf Resort thereby clinching the title; bringing a memorable atmosphere inside the Nwaniba Hall of Ibom Hotel and golfers, dignitaries, and guests gathered for the grand finale of the 2026 Ibom Open Golf Championship.
However, the much-anticipated event left everyone in euphoria during the gala and prize presentation ceremony as Coach Emmanuel Ochayi, resident golf professional of Ibom Golf Club, stepped forward to announce the overall champion of what is widely regarded as Nigeria's biggest and most prestigious amateur golf tournament.
Long before the official announcement, keen followers of the tournament had already sensed the outcome through the live scoring system introduced by the organizers. The innovation, which provided real-time updates throughout the championship, generated excitement and transparency, allowing players and spectators to track performances as they unfolded.
Moments before the winner was revealed, jubilant supporters gathered around a table occupied by prominent golfers and administrators, including Senator Bassey Albert, Captain of Benin Golf Club Stephen Ebaretonnbofa, former Calabar Golf Club captain Bassey Nkposong, Emem Eduok, and others. At the Centre of the growing celebration stood a towering figure whose calm demeanor concealed the magnitude of the moment—Princewill Albert.
As the DJ switched to the iconic championship anthem, "Stand Up for the Champion," the hall erupted in applause and shouts. And Princewill Albert, an accomplished oil and gas businessman and a brother of Senator Bassey Albert, was officially crowned the 2026 Ibom Open Champion.
For Albert, the victory marked the culmination of 12 years of dedication to amateur golf. Ironically, the man who announced his triumph remains one of the most influential figures in his golfing journey.
"Coach Emmanuel Ochayi is my favorite coach among all those who have tutored me in golf," Albert said after receiving his trophy.
Believing in the Dream
Asked when he began to see himself as a potential champion, Albert pointed to a period when consistency became the hallmark of his game.
"I started to believe and work towards better scores when my shots became more consistent without losing strength. That helped me stay focused and trust in my ability to win."
Inspired by Rory McIlroy
Like many golfers around the world, Albert draws inspiration from one of the game's global stars.
"My biggest golf mentor is Rory McIlroy," he revealed.
Favorite Course Outside Uyo
While the lush fairways of the Ibom Golf Course have played a significant role in his development, Albert admits there is another course he particularly enjoys.
"TYB Golf Course, Abuja," he said when asked about his favorite course outside Uyo.
A Growing Collection of Trophies
The new champion's victory at the Ibom Open adds to an impressive list of achievements accumulated over the years. His honors include:
- Ibom Golf Club Governor's Cup Winner
- Ibom Golf Club Nearest-to-the-Pin Champion
- SKW 4+4 Inauguration Kitty 2020 Winner
- Obianuju & Anozie Obi Wedding Golf Kitty Winner
- Runner-up, Godswill Akpabio 50th Birthday Invitational Golf Tournament
- Best Net Winner, Ibom Open 2026 Category Event
- Overall Champion, Ibom Open 2026
Despite reaching the summit at Ibom Open, Albert remains ambitious.
"My next target is to win the Nigeria's Cup and The Prestige Golf Classic," he said.
A Tournament Defined by Transparency
Reflecting on the championship, Albert praised the organizers for raising standards, particularly in scorekeeping.
"The best thing the organizers did this year was accurate score-taking by having marshals stationed at every hole. It eliminated score manipulation completely. They should maintain that standard going forward."
A Victory Dedicated to Family and Supporters
For the champion, the triumph is more than a personal achievement.
"I dedicate this victory to my wife and sons, who have been directly affected by my love and dedication to the game. I have sacrificed quality family time and many opportunities to create memories with them because of training and competition. Their support has been invaluable."
He also paid tribute to his elder brother.
"I dedicate this victory to Senator Bassey Albert for his unwavering support and encouragement throughout my golfing journey and in helping me achieve this dream."
Understanding the Prize Pool
Following the championship, congratulatory messages poured in from across the golfing community. Predictably, a few playful requests were made for a share of the champion's supposed prize money.
However, it is important to note that amateur golf tournaments do not award cash prizes to winners. The widely publicized prize pool represents the cumulative value of trophies, gift items, and awards distributed across various categories during the tournament. Apart from the trophies, TV set, freezers, and many household items were won. The champion alone walked away with business class return tickets for destination of choice courtesy of Uganda Airlines.
For Princewill Albert, the greatest reward was not monetary. It was the honor of etching his name into the history books as the 2026 Ibom Open Champion—a title earned through years of persistence, discipline, and and belief.
