By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –
LUSAKA golfer Peter Munyinya finished as the fifth best African amateur golfer at the just-ended All-Africa Golf Team Championship (AAGTC) held in Kenya during the week.
Munyinya, the immediate past Zambia junior team captain, was tied in fifth in the overall gross score of the highly competitive tournament that attracted more than 50 players from across the continent.
He grossed 295 after four tough rounds of golf, which was just seven shots off winner Aubrey Beckley of South Africa in the gross category, who had an impressive 288 which was four-under-par with Ugandan Ronald Otile in close second with just two shots off.
The soft-spoken Munyinya started the tournament with an amazing 71, which was two-under-par at the exotic Limuru Country Club, the same score with fellow Zambian Sydney Wemba and were beaten only by Ugandan Otile (69) and South African Jade Buitendag (70).
But a poor second day score of 76 meant he slid down the top order in overall gross score to below 10th position and when he marginally improved his score on the third day with a 74, Munyinya went into sixth place.
A closing day 74 score meant he improved his standing by just one slot but was joined by South African Jade Buitendag, who also grossed 295 after an impressive last round score of 67, the best one-round score of the tournament.
The other Zambians were outside the top 10 with team captain Aaron Simfukwe Junior in 16th position on 308, while Denmark Mulambo was on 310 and in 19th place.
Leaderboard             Score
Aubrey Beckley       288
Ronald Otile             290
Andre Nel                 292
Ludovic Bax             293
Peter Munyinya        295
Jade Buitendag          295