By FELIX MALUNGA and MOSES CHIMFWEMBE –
MORE than 130 top players across Zambia have signed up for the Nkana Open Golf Championship that tees off today in Kitwe.
This two-day tournament will also act as a qualifier for the inaugural Windhoek Lager Africa Jacket Golf Championship set for Namibia.
Zambia Golf Union (ZGU) honorary secretary, Kelly Munsaka said in a statement released yesterday that because of the overwhelming response from participants, the tournament organisers decided to restrict entries to only golfers with handicaps 14 and less.
“The entries to the tournament stand at 130 Participants, overwhelming the course capacity thereby forcing the organising committee to restrict entries to only up-to 14 handicap players only,” Munsaka said.
Namibia Breweries Limited recently launched the Windhoek Lager Africa Jacket Golf championship in Zambia.
This year’s event will involve hosts Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Participating countries are given leeway to choose four existing local tournaments on their respective calendars as qualifiers for the Windhoek Lager Africa Jacket Golf Championship finals.
Meanwhile, the inaugural 2014 Zambia Professional Ladies Golf Open tournament billed for Ndola golf Club from March 27-30 will go ahead without the title sponsor.
Zambia Ladies Open organising Committee chairperson Alex Mashano said this at a press briefing in Ndola yesterday that the committee had not yet secured a title sponsor.
Mashano said there had been stiff competition to mobilise the required resources to successfully stage the event because another Zambia Open tournament to be staged at Nkana Golf Club also needed funds.
“The tournament will kick off even without a title sponsor, which is a rare feat in any tournament but the shear good will of corporate world both on the Copperbelt and in Lusaka who have done a commendable job in providing of the prize money of R750, 000 (about K450, 000),” he said.
Meanwhile, Mashano declared Zambia’s readiness to host the tournament that has so far attracted 40 entries.
He said the organising committee was satisfied with the preparation works ahead of the tournament that would be concluded tomorrow before inspection by Sunshine Ladies Tour Officials who are due to arrive on Monday.
And Mashano further announced that five amateur golfers from the Zambia Ladies Golf Union (ZLGU) who include Melissa Nawa, Tina Nawa, Kaela Mulenga. Lona Mweenda and have also been invited for the tournament.
