By FELIX MALUNGA –
ZAMBIA’S top golfer, Madalitso Muthiya on Sunday earned his second biggest pay-cheque on the Sunshine Tour when he reaped R56,784 (about K34,070) after finishing joint 55th at the prestigious Johannesburg Open Championship in South Africa.
. Muthiya
Muthiya, whose biggest career pay was in 2006 when he earned R62,500 (about K37,500 at current exchange rate) for claiming a historic second position at the Zambia Open in Chingola, carded five-under-par 282 to tie for 55 with four others.
The 32-year-old Lusaka Golf Club player finished 12 strokes behind eventual winner Andy Sullivan of England, who cruised to a two-shot victory at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club.
Sullivan picked up R2,678,650 (about K1.6 million) as top prize.
Going into the final round on three-under-par 212, Muthiya sunk four birdies whose only blemish were two bogeys to tie with seasoned Sunshine Tour campaigners, Neil Schietekat, Erik van Rooyen, Ben Evans and Thomas Pieters.
After participating in the Johannesburg Open, Muthiya, who is rated 32 on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit, will today head into the Africa Open Qualifier at the Fish River Sun Country Club.
He will be joined by compatriots, Bruce Chanda and Dayne Moore, who missed a cut at the Johannesburg Open.
The R13,840,000 (about K8.3 million) rich Africa Open will be held at the East London Golf Club from March 5-8.
