By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –
MADALITSO Muthiya says it is exciting to return to the Lusaka Golf Club where he acquired his skills from as he prepares to tee off in today’s Zambia Sugar Open Pro-Am tournament.

. Muthiya

Muthiya has been the best Zambian player seen not just at this golf club but across the country. He has also held the Lusaka Golf Club’s course record at 10-under for an extended period.
“Coming back to this club is obviously something special, I have a lot of sweet memories here and I also held the course record here (of 10-under-par 63) for quite a while. I am obviously looking to put up a better performance when the Zambia Sugar Open starts,” he said.
Muthiya was making reference to the Mopani/Redpath Open in Kitwe where he was among the two Zambians that made the cut and finished in joint 22nd position.
Though he was the best Zambian player with a four-round par-score of 288, he was still left less than impressed cursing his first two rounds where he was four-over but rebounded strongly after the cut with a reversing four-under on the last two days.
“I obviously started poorly in Kitwe and ended pretty well. I will be fighting to play well throughout the Open here. But first, I will be in the Zambia Sugar Pro-Am and will try out my shots,” he said.
While Muthiya was hoping to see how well the course will treat him in today’s Pro-Am, Patrick Mwendapole shot a one-under-par in yesterday Pro-Am and was left with a big smile.
“Obviously, we disappointed our people after the poor showing in Kitwe but things will be better here. Lusaka has been our home and then we also need to impress our fans by playing better. Today’s (yesterday’s) score of one-under was not bad,” he said.
He was, however, quick to state that the fans will need to practice some patience with the Zambian golfers as they get to play just two tournaments the whole year as compared to their South Africa opponents who play through out the year.
In today’s Zambia Sugar Pro-Am, four former winners in Zambia will be teeing off together with Muthiya, who is the only local professional playing in today’s Pro-Am.
Muthiya will be teeing off at the 10th hole at 11:30 hours, same time as former winner Ulrich van der Berg, who will be teeing off on the first hole.
Former winners Christiaan Basson, Tyrone Ferreira, Justin Harding as well as defending champion Lyle Rowe will take part in the Pro-AM.