Zambia Sugar golf tourney tees off
Published On April 20, 2016 » 1750 Views» By Bennet Simbeye » Sports
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By NDINAWE SIMPELWE –
THE R1.5 million-rich Zambia Sugar Golf Open tees off today at the Lusaka Golf Club with the two immediate past winners Vaughn Groenewald and Lyle Rowe returning to chase for the top prize, while Zambia’s Madalitso Muthiya will lead the Zambian interest at the tournament.
Defending champions Vaughn Groenewald has tipped Muthiya to be a top contender to the top prize.
The tournament that has seen 30 local golfers enter, will once again see Muthiya carrying the weight of the nation on his shoulders as he seeks his first ever Zambia Open title.
Defending champion Groenewald said Muthiya has a big chance of winning the tournament looking at his form this year.
He said if the Zambian top ranked golfer continued on his form, he would be among the golfers contending for the main prize in the next four days.
“Madalitso Muthiya is a great player; I’m a very good friend of his. Of course he also loves coming back here. I think there is always a big chance that he can win this tournament if he keeps going and if he keeps everything together, he will be very difficult to beat,” said Groenewald.
Muthiya has been Zambia’s best performer at most of Zambia Opens, his best finish was in 2006 when he scooped second position.
Other Zambians expected to lift the flag high include Michael Kangwine Chiluba and Patrick Mwendapole who will be aiming to make the cut after a disappointing display last year while Dayne Moore is set to continue with his progress.
“My aim is higher this year. I do not just want to make the cut but I want to win the Zambia Open. It’s a big challenge but that’s something I can aim for,” he said.
The tournament will also be a chance for local amateurs to check their improvement in the game before they think of turning professional with Peter Munyinya expected to lead the amateur’s charge.
However, the South Africans are expected to continue their dominance with in form Rowe fresh from winning the Zimbabwe Open last week among the favorites.
Rowe won his first title on the Sunshine Tour in 2014 after winning the Zambia Sugar Open before last week’s triumph in Zimbabwe.
“Obviously, getting the first win is a huge relief, but you wonder if you can do it again and when you are going to do it again. It’s two years later, but better late than never. I think my game is in a better place than it was in 2014. I’m trying to mature in terms of playing smart golf and being a bit more patient than I used to be.
“It will be nice if I can get back-to-back wins. Hopefully it’ll continue to be a happy hunting ground here and we’ll try. You’ve just got to put the ball in the right place. It gets a bit windy and bit bouncy here, so if you miss it in the right place here you’ll keep the errors off the card,” Rowe told the Sunshine Tour website.
The South Africans are in the majority once again while a few are from Europe.
Apart from chasing the top prize, the golfers will also battle it out on the incentives placed on different holes for whoever sinks a first hole in one.

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