• LOCAL professional Bube Samutela tees off from Number One during yesterday’s opening round at the Mopani Copper Mines/Redpath Mining Zambia Open Championship at Nkana Golf Club in Kitwe. Picture by SYDNEY KALUNGA

By FELIX MALUNGA At Nkana Golf Club –
SOUTH African, Theunis Spangenberg yesterday fired an astonishing six-under-par 66 to take a two-stroke overnight lead at the $300,000-rich Mopani Copper Mines/Redpath Mining Zambia Open Championship in Kitwe.
On the local front, Dayne Moore kept Zambia’s hopes alive when he shot one-under-par 71 to stay five strokes off the leader.
Despite some new features on the Nkana course which have made it more challenging, Spangenberg, who also led the first round of the 2014 Mopani Zambia Open with an amazing 10-under-par 62, kept his head up to claim bragging rights again on the opening day of the prestigious event.
Spangenberg, who celebrated his 32nd birthday on April 6, sunk seven birdies with the only blemish being a bogey on the fifth hole.
“On this course, you have to keep the ball in play and putt well. I hope to carry in the next three rounds,” the Kalahari Golf and Hunting Club player, who finished in joint eighth last year and was yesterday two shots clear of the chasing pack of five others, said.
Englishman, Ross McGowan stormed the South African party on his 33rd birthday when he carded a four-under-par 68 to tie for second with four others.
McGowan, who has only made a cut once this year, tied with four South Africans, Morne Buys, Chris Swanepoel, Eric van Rooyen and Colin Nel.
The Englishman, a resident of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, who made his European Tour breakthrough with victory in the 2009 Madrid Masters, will be hoping to make his second cut of the year today here.
At 6,412 metres, Nkana is not the longest course the Sunshine Tour professionals play on, but it’s very tight, and tee shots that are even only slightly off line will get severely punished as the first cut of rough gives way to bush that is very thick in places.
Moore of Ndola fought back from three-over to finish on one-under-par 71 and lead Zambia’s charge at the richest Sunshine Tour event in Africa outside South Africa.
“I made a lot of bogeys, luckily I made an eagle on the 17th. Otherwise, I think I struggled. I was pretty relaxed, I said to myself I just have to breath and played it like a practice round not be so tense,” the 22-year-old, who tied for 15 with 2012 champion Justin Harding and 14 others, said.
Another local prospect, Madalitso Muthiya yesterday sunk his 13th career eagle which saved his game from suffering early brushes at the Mopani/Redpath Zambia Open, finishing the first round on one-over-par 73.
Muthiya, who has earned a card to play on the European Tour, had two bogeys on the 10th and 14th but an eagle on the 17th brought him back in the game.
However, just like on the 10th, the 32-year-old Lusaka golfer dropped two shots on the first and fourth holes before sinking a birdie on the ninth to ensure a one-over on the opening day of the prestigious.
“All-in-all I will take one-over for the first day. On the par five number four, I had a bad bogey I hit a good tee shot and then just messed it up around the green.
“The 10th is just a great hole the fairway is a premium. I got away with a bogey and it is what it is. I hope to hit the ball a little bit better and then just play well. If I can get out there and put a good round I will be in good shape,” Muthiya said in an interview.
Top local amateur, Aaron Simfukwe Jnr carded four-over-par 76, two strokes ahead of compatriots, Matengele Kaira and David Ng’andu.
On what came to be a disastrous day for Zambians, veteran professional Mohammed Zulu could only manage seven-over-par 79, a shot ahead of Kelvin Phiri, Patrick Mwendapole and Beza Daka and amateurs, Peter Munyinya, Gabriel Chibale and Abhinav Walia.
Bube Samutela could only crawl away on 10-over-par 82, tying with amateur Chistopher Mumba as the bulk of Zambians look set to exit the prestigious event today.
Bruce Chanda and Gibson Saloba will also need more than miracle to survive today’s second round after shooting woefully 11-over 83, a stroke better than local rookie Jason Taylor and Aaron Simfukwe Snr.
Veteran Geoffrey Banda shot a poor 15-over-par 87 with amateur Boyd Kapalamoto trailing a stroke back while another veteran Stephen Mbewe had a hugely disappointing first day, carding 19-over-par 91.
Zambia’s worst performer on the opening day was amateur Kelly Tembo who had 22-over-par 94 to settle at the bottom of the log.
Meanwhile on his European Tour, Muthiya, who has so far made three cuts on the Sunshine Tour this year, will begin his campaign play in the $1 million Mauritius Open on May 7-10.