• LOCAL professional golfer Madalitso Muthiya tees off from hole number one during yesterday’s Airtel/Samsung Pro-AM at Nkana Golf Club in Kitwe. – Picture by MOFFAT CHAZINGWA.

By FELIX MALUNGA
At Nkana Golf Club-
SOUTH African, CJ Du Plessis made his intentions in Kitwe known yesterday when he fired an astonishing seven-under-par 66 to win the Airtel/Samsung Pro-Am, the first prelude to the prestigious Mopani Copper Mines 2014 Zambia Open Championship.
Du Plessis set the pace for this week but his score was three strokes shy of the Nkana Golf course record by Craig Defoe in 1970.
The Investec Royal Swazi Open winner was a shot ahead of compatriots Paul De Beer, Theunis Spangenberg and Erick Van Rooyen who tied for second on six-under-par 67.
Zambia’s golf prodigy, Madalitso Muthiya also proved that he was up to the task at the refurbished Nkana Golf Club shooting an impressive five-under-par 68, setting the record for local players.
Muthiya said he enjoyed his game on the course where he sunk six birdies but the only blemish was one bogey.
“It was enjoyable, a chance to give back to the corporate sponsors who support the Zambia Open. It’s about time we started playing on such good courses in Zambia. Since 1992, this is the best course and best organised Zambia Open,” he said.
Nkana professional, Beza Daka could just chip in with a somewhat disappointing six-over-par 79 and said he just now needed to rectify a few mistakes to perfect his game this week.
The Airtel/Samsung Pro-Am team event was scooped by a team led by South African professional, Divan Van Den Heever.
Van Den Heever was in the team with Aaron Simfukwe jnr, Ray Gibson and Shane Moore who carded 89 points, two ahead of two groups who tied on 87.
Today focus will shift to the Zamtel/Redpath Pro-Am before the Mopani Zambia Open proper with a prize money of $250,000 (more than K1.5 million) tees off.