• ZAMBIA’S professional golfer Gibson Saloba practices at Nkana Golf Club yesterday in readiness for the 2015 Zambia Open Golf tournament that tees off tomorrow.
By FELIX MALUNGA –
SOUTH African, Dylan Frittelli yesterday sent warning shots to rivals in this week’s 2015 Mopani Copper Mines/Redpath Zambia Open Golf Championship by firing three-under-par 69 to win the MTN/EC Mining Pro-Am in Kitwe.
Frittelli, who turned professional three years and his only career triumph being the 2013 Big Easy Tour – Roodepoort, led a team consisting amateurs David Mulenga, Fraser Siwale and R Kaoma to victory.
He earned himself $300 (about K2, 190) top prize as the overall the team earned 89 points. The 24-year-old Johannesburg native was six strokes clear of runner-up Pieter Moolman.
Moolman, who carded three-over-par 75 to pocket $200 (K1,460), was in a group of James Silwimba, Godfredah Chulu and I Ndhlovu which finished the race on 92 points.
Gibson Saloba gave Zambia some glimpse of hope when he shot four-over-par 76 to claim the third position in the MTN/EC Mining Pro-Am, the first prelude to the Zambia Open.
Saloba, who won himself $100 (about K730), was in team of Milliase Siame, Serge Kabaso and Olivia Phiri which garnered 95 points.
In the subsidiaries, Mulenga claimed the nearest to the pin award on the third hole with Elastos Chalwe, Musemwa Mpolokoso and Johan Mostert got the accolades on holes seven, 11 and 15, respectively.
For the longest drive in the ladies section, the hard-hitting Siame got the prize while Panji Phiri was the longest hitter for the men.
Meanwhile, the second warm-up for the Zambia Open Golf Championship, the Mopani Copper Mines-Redpath Mining Pro-Am, takes centre stage today with local favourite, Madalitso Muthiya and two past winners leading the 120 field at Nkana Golf Club in Kitwe.
Muthiya, who has been consistent on the Sunshine Tour, will tee off from the 10th and the nation will be eager to see what the 2006 runner-up has in store this week at the Mopani/Redpath Zambia Open Championship.
Other local professionals, Patrick Mwendapole, Bube Samutela, Bruce Chanda and Mohammed Zulu will also be on the Nkana course today to showcase their potential before the Zambia Open proper starts tomorrow.
Doug McGuigan, the 2011 Zambia Open, is another top golfer to look out for in this Pro-Am co-sponsored by tournament title sponsors, Mopani and Redpath alongside 1996 champion, Desvonde Botes.
Allan Versfeld, winner of a Jeep Cherokee last year, will also be on the course sharpening his shooting skills ahead of the 2015 Zambia Open.
On the amateur ranks, Africa Golf Confederation (AGC) president Joe Malanji, Sports Council of Zambia (SCZ) vice-chairperson Emmanuel Katebe, Zambia Golf Union (ZGU) president Charles Mwanza and corporate executives in Danny Callow, Hanson Sindowe, Maybin Noole, Friday Ndhlovu, Chabala Lumbwe, Caleb Mulenga and Yogesh Desai will also try to stake their claim against professional players.
Others to showcase their skills will be ZGU honorary secretary Kelly Munsaka, Cephas Sinyangwe, Joel Chitambala, Paul Simfukwe, Eva Sakala and former ZGU presidents, Matthew Nkhuwa and Alex Mashano.
Meanwhile, President Edgar Lungu has hailed Mopani and Redpath for dipping into their coffers to ensure a successful Zambia Open. He said the two firm’s contributions would not go unnoticed and that Government was grateful.
ZGU president Charles Mwanza commended Mopani and Redpath for putting a bigger stake of $300,000 (about K2.2 million) in prize money, making the Zambia Open the richest in Africa outside South Africa.
Mopani chief executive officer, Danny Callow said the mining giant had again led other corporate organisations in further upgrading infrastructure at Nkana Golf Club.
