Blantyre Sports Club’s Phillip Phambana and a visiting Lilongwe Golf Club member, Jochebed Mpanga, emerged respective champions in the men’s and the ladies’ categories of the Optichem Golf Competition at Thyolo Sports Club (TSC).
Phambana won with 44 points, beating TSC captain, Rajeev Sihgn Rawal, who finished second with 41 points while Gerson Araujo came third with 39 points.
Phambana described his triumph as an indication of the potential that he has in the game.
“I am very excited to be a winner today because I have not been winning for some time now. I have played in over eight tournaments but my performance has been very bad. So I am very pleased that my game is improving for better,” he said.
In the ladies’ category, Mpanga was declared champion with 40 points while Arnes Araujo got 36 points to finish second.
While thanking Optichem for organising the tournament, Mpanga said she was excited that she won the championship despite starting the game on a low note.
“It was my first time playing on the browns. I am used to playing on greens, so I found it a bit challenging, especially at the first two holes. But then I managed to get through after eventually getting used. Unfortunately, I had no birdies, but more pars and bogeys that made me win,” she said.
Kingsley Chimdima Mhango, an 11-handicap golfer, emerged champion in the senior golfers’ category with 38 points, seconded by John Magombo who collected 37 points.
Harold Lungu and Connie Muguvu-Karuku won the longest drive for the men’s and the ladies’ categories respectively.
Optichem 2000 Limited General Manager, Bobby Singh, described the turnout of 54 golfers as impressive, saying it signals the good support the company is enjoying from the general public.
“Our business is in the agriculture sector. We know very well that we have a big customer base in the tea-growing districts of Thyolo and Mulanje. The people of the two districts give us business directly and indirectly. They help us to grow our business, hence the need for us to organise this golf tournament every year as a token of thanks,” Singh said.
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