MUTHIYA BAGS PRUDENTIAL CLASSIC
TOP Zambian golfer Madhitso Muthiya emerged victorious at the just ended Prudential Classic held at the Chilanga Golf Club.
Muthiya emerged victorious at the highly contested tournament which also had representation from foreign golfers as he scored three points.
The top Zambian golfer expressed excitement at winning the tournament saying he had achieved his goal for the day.
After holding a one-shot lead on the two opening days, Muthiya broke away in the last round to take a comfortable win. Yesterday, Muthiya scored a level-par 70 to finish with a three-round total of two-under-par 208 on a day many golfers complained about their scoring.
While many struggled with their scores, rising star Sydney Wemba was in a different form as he scored two-under-par 68, the joint best score of the day and the reward for this was a leap three places up the leaderboard to second with a one-over-par 211. Wemba is the only local player to have beaten Muthiya in the last one year of the Professional Golfers Association of Zambia (PGAZ) tournament which was at Nkana.
“I won’t comment on that,” when reminded he remains the only local player to have finished ahead of Muthiya.
Taking third place was Ndola’s Gabriel Chibale, who kept his third position held in round two after he shot an underwhelming last round score of three-over-par 73 to finish the tournament on four-par 214.
Tournaments Director Rhoda Duthie was excited to see out the tournament and paid glowing tribute to the sponsors especially the title sponsors Prudential Insurance and Magnum Security for making the tournament possible.
Local players Dezzie Ng’andu finished in fourth, one shot off Chibale and then in fifth place was taken by Morton Muwowo who despite the one over on the last day had an overall of eight-over-par 218.
In the amateur category, Mukuka Kapoma junior was the runaway winner with an overall eight-over-par 218, six shots better than Sangu Chundama and then Bwembya Chanda who were tied for second and needed a play-off to see who took second place.
But there was greater excitement in the junior category where 14-year-old Nkana player Amir Muamani sunk a hole-in-one on the 18th to finish the day on an impressive one-over-par 71 but finished on fourth overall.
“This is my first ever hole- in-one. Been playing for about five years and never a hole-in- one and then today I get one. I am so excited. I hope I will get more in my career,” said the junior player from Nkana.
Winner of the junior category was Benjamin Mweemba and relegated Vincent Kalobe into second and Joshua Mwendapole took third.