By MOSES CHIMFWEMBE –
SOUTH Africa’s golfer Nicole Garcia yesterday made a huge statement about her intentions in the set 2014 Zambia Ladies Open Championship after she won the Reekays/Plascon Pro-AM at the Ndola Golf Club.
Garcia, who also competes in European Ladies Tour, accumulated 90 points to claim the $200 (about K1,200) top prize with compatriot Stacy Bregman claiming a US$150 (about K900) second prize, two points off the winners with 88 points.
Australian Maggie Yuan, who is also on the European Tour, came out third, a point shy of Bregman and walked away with a $100 (about K600) cash prize.
The R750,000-rich Zambia Ladies Open proper tees off today with a field of about 50 golfers, 30 of them who are professionals and the rest being amateurs coming from 13 countries.
Zambia’s top ranked players in the Nawa sisters Melissa and Tina will lead the amateur line-up, alongside South Africa’s top two, Magda Kruger and Michaela Fletcher while Loice Shingono and Shamiso Makwara are from Zimbabwe
Garcia and Bregman will be leading the professionals surge and with challenge from this season’s winners of other Sunshine Tour tournaments like Monique Smit, Tandi von Ruben and Kim Williams
Meanwhile, MOFFAT CHAZINGWA reports Madison General Insurance yesterday donated K146, 125 towards the successful hosting of the Mopani Copper Mines 2014 Zambia Open Golf tournament.
The donation came a day barely after Zamtel donated $25, 000 (about K155, 000) towards the event which is set to be the richest-ever in the history of the local spot after tournament organisers staked R1.5 million (780, 000) as prize money for deserving players.
Madison general managing director Chabala Lumbwe said the donation was to assist in ensuring that the financial obligations that go with hosting such a tournament were met.
Lumbwe said during a presentation ceremony at Mopani Copper Mines general offices in Kitwe that the donation was a reaffirmation of the Lawrence Sikutwa and Associates (LSA)’s commitment to continue discharging its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes towards society.
“Golf is a long established sport in the country and there are a growing number of dedicated Zambian golfers who enjoy the game. We believe that a tournament like this one will help improve their skills,” he said.
Zambia Open organising committee chairperson Emannuel Mutati thanked Madison General Insurance for the donation ahead of hosting the prestigious 2014 Zambia Open Tournament slated for May 25 to 28 this year at Nkana Golf Club in Kitwe.