By FELIX MALUNGA –

ZAMBIA’S top 80 amateur players will converge in Kitwe today to compete for honours in the 2015 Nkana Open Golf Championship.
The Nkana Open will also act as the final qualifying tournament for two prestigious international events – Mopani Copper Mines/Redpath Mining Zambia Open and Zambia Sugar Open, respectively.
Nkana captain, Elario Musonda said the tournament organisers had to reduce the field to 80 because they wanted a good turn around for the players and allow everybody to finish the 36 holes on time.
Musonda said in an interview yesterday that the Nkana Open was over-subscribed and that the organisers decided to reduce the entries by putting a cut off of 16 handicap.
“You know this is a 36-hole tournament which will be played within a day. We had to restrict the field to have a good turn around and allow everybody to play,” he said.
Of the 80 top golfers, Zambia Golf Union (ZGU) vice-president north, Moses Chitoshi is the only national adiministrator taking part in the competition.
Some of the players taking part in the Nkana Open are Ndola’s Kelvin Chibuye, Aaron Simfukwe Jnr of Chilanga, Kabwe’s Denmark Mulambo and Mukuka Mwango of Nkana, all of whom play off scratch (zero handicap).
Others are Abhinav Walia, Timothy Sondashi and Gabriel Chibuye, playing off plus one handicap with some notables also being Peter Munyinya, Mwila Mwango and Kelly Tembo.
The recently-held Zambia Amateur Open won by Chibale was the first qualifier for local amateurs vie for slots in next month’s  Mopani Copper Mines/Redpath Mining Zambia Open and Zambia Sugar Open, respectively.
ZGU honorary secretary, Kelly Musanka said Zambia had been given 10 slots by Sunshine Tour for amateur golfers to participate in the two international events.