By FELIX MALUNGA-

•ZAMBIA Ladies Golf Union president, Moono Mwila (left) receives a certificate from Africa Golf Confederation (AGC) president, Joe Malanji in recognition of her efforts in developing women’s golf. Picture by FELIX MALUNGA

GOVERNMENT has challenged the Zambia Ladies Golf Union (ZLGU) to begin motivating more women and girls to take up golf as a way of developing the local sport.
Sports Deputy Minister, Christopher Mulenga said ZLGU needed to do more to bring on board more women and girls in golf at all levels including those in rural areas.
Speaking when he officially closed the first-ever Zambia Ladies Open Championship in Ndola on Sunday, Mulenga said the future of local ladies golf rested in the hands of ZLGU, hence the need for the union to attract more female players.
The minister pledged Government’s support to women participation in various sports activities.
He, however, urged the ZLGU to continue working hard in its efforts to develop the sport across the nation.
Mulenga said the hosting of the Zambia Ladies Open signified a positive growth in the local sports sector and that golf was one sport discipline making remarkable progress over the years.
ZLGU president, Moono Mwila, who was honoured by the Africa Golf Confederation (AGC) for her contributions, said the Zambian ladies golf would never be the same again after the staging of the first Professional Ladies Golf Championship.
Mwila said ZLGU was hoping to have a local professional golfer to participate in next year’s Zambia Ladies Open.
She said the prize money for next year would be doubled, making the tournament more attractive to top lady golfers across the world.
The prize money for the inaugural Zambia Ladies Open Championship was R750,000 (about K435,000) with the eventual winner, Stacy Bregman of South Africa pocketing R78,500 (about K45,530).
AGC president, Joe Malanji said Zambian ladies golf had reached its pinnacle and that hosting of the tournament would even prop up the local juniors to perform better.
Malanji later honoured Mwila for her distinguished service to the development of ladies golf.
Apart from getting a certificate, Mwila was also given a lifetime experience by AGC to watch the 2014 British Open Championship.
Mwila was offered an attractive package worth K35,000 which includes an air ticket, accommodation, other incidentals and seasonal ticket.
Malanji also honoured the Women’s Professional Golfers Association (WPGA) of South Africa officials, Barbra Pestana and Jennipher Germs for their efforts in spreading the ladies sport across the African continent.