By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –
PATRICK Mwendapole produced a fiery performance to win the Sandvik Zambia-sponsored Professional Golfers Association of Zambia (PGAZ) championship held in Kitwe, taking the title with a seven-shot gap.
The two-day tournament, that also featured amateurs from across the country at Nkana Golf Club, saw Lusaka amateur Sydney Wemba prove he deserved recognition by winning the amateurs’ title with a flourish.
In the professionals’ section, Mwendapole of Chilanga Golf Club, was too good for the rest of the field by finishing three-under-par 141, which was seven shots away from second placed Aaron Simfukwe who finished on four-over-par 148.
Mwendapole produced a modest two-over-par 74 on Day-One which was still the best score among the professional though two amateurs scored better. But it was the Day-Two score that blew away everyone as Mwendapole, who is also national junior team coach, raced to a five-under-par 67.
He actually was seven-under-par after the 17th hole, following four birdies on the front nine and another three birdies on the back nine but dropped two shots on the par-four 18th hole.
The next best performer among the professionals was Simfukwe senior who finished on four-over-par 148 and ironically, his son, Aaron, also finished second in the amateur category on the same 148.
Finishing third in the professional section was Kelvin Phiri on six-over-par 150, one shot better than Mohammed Zulu while Geoffrey Banda was on 153 and Beza Daka finished 10-over-par 154.
In the amateur section, Wemba took the honours with a one-over-par 145, three shots better than a set of three players including Simfukwe junior.
Adam Sailesi and Peter Munyinya were the other two while the Ndola Golf Club duo of Gabriel Chibale and Kelvin Chibuye together with Paul Chidale finished in joint sixth on six-over-par 150.
Tina Nawa kept her head high after scoring 156 to beat a horde of other male competitors.