By FRANCINA CHOMBA –

MORE THAN 140 golfers are expected to take part in the final leg of the MTN Golf Challenge slated for October 31 at the Nkana Golf Club in Kitwe.
Lusaka’s Abel Ryan won the first leg held in Lusaka heading into the second leg whose overall winner will claim the first prize which is an all-expenses paid trip to the United States of America (USA) to watch the prestigious 2015 PGA Tour, US Open Championship.
MTN Zambia chief marketing officer Clement Asante says the tournament is open to all MTN customers and the general public and that preparations for the final leg have advanced.
Asante said in a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday that the tournament has become a regular fixture on the Zambian golf calendar and that MTN Zambia’s passion to develop golf in the country remained strong.
“This is because we know golf is a passion for many of our customers, mainly in high value and corporate segments and thus we use this platform to engage with them while making a contribution to the development of golf in Zambia,” Asante said.
The PGA Tour US Open Championship is one of the world’s most acclaimed golf tournaments attracting the game’s greatest players including Tiger Woods and Rory Mcllroy.
Asante said this year’s prize is meant to inspire golfers in Zambia to aim for the highest laurels in the sport.
“The next stage in Zambian golf is to groom a number of local golfers to play at the highest level. This can only be attained with continued investment in the sport and exposing our players to the world’s best facilities and biggest platforms,” he said.