By Llywellenie Mpasa:
Gabriel Kambale underlined his dominance as one of Malawi’s leading golfers after securing his fifth Blantyre Sports Club (BSC) Open crown over the weekend.
In the ladies’ section, Diana Kambale made her breakthrough by capturing her maiden title at the One Nico 2025 Blantyre Sports Club Open Tournament.
The prestigious event drew over 200 golfers from across the nation, turning Blantyre Sports Club into a vibrant hub of activity as professionals, amateurs and juniors battled for honours.
In the men’s championship division, Gabriel posted a gross score of 230 to outshine Elliot Manonga, who finished second on 236, while Victor Khamalatha was placed third on 239.
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“The experience on the greens was quite tough because the course had become drier. That made the ball run very fast and unpredictable, demanding a different scoring strategy,” Gabriel said.
The ladies’ division unveiled a new champion as Diana Kambale posted a net score of 135 to finish on top.
She edged out Doreen Kavala, who recorded 142 to claim second spot, while Ireen Matiasi completed the podium.
Diana said her win was a result of a composed and consistent performance, especially on day one of the two-day tournament.
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“My approach was built on strong long shots, accurate putting and effective chipping, which gave me nine pars on the first day. Remaining calm and collected was essential,” she said.
In the seniors’ category, Willet Kalonga emerged winner with a net score of 144, ahead of Wiseman Kabwazi on 149 and Keta Mulwafu, who also posted 149 but settled for third on count back.
The B Division, contested by 64 golfers, saw Vincent Chimberenga triumph with 184, narrowly ahead of Madalo Matabwa (185) and Dennis Mwanika (190).
In the A Division, which drew 65 players, Douglas Kamwendo took top spot with 161, followed by Chifundo Lingao (162) and Honest Chirwa (164).
The Pro-Am Division, played over three days by 11 golfers produced one of the closest finishes of the competition.
Paul Chidale edged it with 217, just one shot clear of Folindo Rodrick (218) and Ganizani Lusho (220), pocketing a K1.5 million prize.
Meanwhile, in the juniors’ contest, rising star Jeremiah Kawerama impressed with a gross of 237, showing the promise of Malawi’s upcoming talent.
The tournament was sponsored by the Nico Group, which includes NBS Bank and Eris Properties, alongside partners such as Britam, Old Mutual, Standard Bank, Business Computer Services, Pinnacle Financial Services, Royal Medical Centre and Amaryllis Hotel.
Nico Holdings Limited Corporate Affairs Manager Mbumba Mlia Ndasauka applauded the event’s success and reiterated the group’s commitment to supporting golf.
“The Nico Group remains committed to golfers, and we will continue to sponsor the sport. We have more tournaments ahead, and we encourage both golfers and the wider community to engage with the Nico brand, which provides a wide range of financial solutions beyond golf,” she said.
