By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –

CHILANGA Golf Club needed the steel nerves of exciting upstart Kelvin Mwanza to brush off a vicious challenge from Lusaka to win the Triangular Matchplay Golf Challenge at the Lusaka Golf Club on Sunday.
Chilanga will now represent the Lusaka circuit at the national quadrangular golf tournament to be held next month where Nkana is also the only other qualified team so far.
The Southern circuit of Mazabuka, Choma and Maamba is yet to be concluded while the one involving hosts Chibuluma, Nchanga and a Roan and Konkola team was not played as Chibuluma were mourning prominent club member, Pius Maambo.
Going into the third and last leg of the circuit leading by 21 points, Chilanga could believe what hit them as Lusaka kept knocking in the golf balls and raking up the points and briefly went ahead before the defending champions retained their title by a point.
Chilanga, winners of the tournament last three years ago, finished with 121 points with Lusaka in second on 120 points while Chainama were in distant third with 83 points.
John Dipa, the Chilanga captain, was in awe about the win but was at pains to explain how a lead of 21 could shrink so easily before heaping praise on Lusaka for the challenge.
Chilanga had to win the game on the last hole with the last group where Mwanza went one up on his rivals with Patrick Mwendapole junior’s amazing run getting special recognition.
Mwendapole was down by five after the front nine but won the first five holes on the back nine to square on the 14th and help his team to a one point win.
“We are happy we won this, the fight Lusaka put up reminds us that we should not relax but a fourth title in a row makes us really happy,” Dipa said.
Lusaka club captain Nsama Mataka conceded defeat but quickly went on to tease Chilanga.
“It is a good thing that small clubs are winning also as losing such tournaments would see them lose interest and eventually disintegrate,” he said.