By KALUMIANA KALUMIANA –

THE Sunshine Tour has said Nkana Golf Club in Kitwe is as good as set to host the 2015 Mopani Copper Mines/Redpath Mining Zambia Open Golf Championship with about 90 per cent of preparations already done.
Meanwhile, the Zambia Open Local Organising Committee (ZOOC) has so far managed to secure one hole-in -one sponsor as they race to match last years challenge of three prizes.
Sunshine Tour tournament director, Gary Todd said in Kitwe yesterday after his first inspection visit of Nkana that the organisers had done much better than at this time last year.
“They (Nkana) are so far ahead of the game it is a different league really. I mean it is always nice to have top class machinery which they have at this facility here while other club’s used to struggle equipment-wise. So this is by far the best I have ever encountered,” Todd said.
“Right now as we speak, we could hold the Zambia Open right now. It is 90 per cent ready.”
Nkana will host the Zambia Open with $300,000 staked in prize money, for a second successive year from April 23-26.
Todd said he was hoping Lusaka Golf Club would match the standard set by Nkana when he inspects the venue next week ahead of their staging of the Zambia Sugar Open from April 30 to May 1.
He added that the only area of concern at Nkana was between the fairway between 13th and 15th holes but that it was not a major problem.
“The definition of the golf course from fairways to the semi roughs and into the jungle is absolutely fantastic,” Todd said.
“The course staff have done a sterling job in presenting the golf course.”
ZOOC chairperson Emmanuel Mutati said his team was humbled to have met all the early targets set by the Sunshine Tour.
Meanwhile, ZOOC vice-president sponsorship, Phil Howard said they were hoping to match the three hole-in-one prize that were up for grabs last year.
“So far we have one vehicle guaranteed. Southern Motors have come up with a vehicle and they will puting it up on the 11th where we have a new water feature,” Howard said.