KANTWANJE WINS UGI GOLF - Septemeber 8 2008

Hudson Kantwanje won this year's United General Insurance golf tournament at Zomba Gymkhana Club after scoring nett 40, 21 points in and 19 out.

Playing off handicap 17, Kantwanje had to count out Bashir Shariff (handicap 15, who also scored the same nett, 21 in and 19 out to come second while Lester Tandwe, (handicap 14), posted nett 39 to come third (20 in and 19 out).

It was an interesting duel for Kantwanje and Shariff because on Wednesday Shariff won the Kingfisher Associates Ball Pool at Blantyre Sports club from a count back on 19 points.

Shariff counted out four contenders including Kantwanje, Joseph Salani, BSC captain James Chimwaza and Steven Chisale, who all scored 19.

This time around, Kantwanje was top from the scores he posted in odd numbers of the holes.

In women's category, Roza Mbilizi (handicap 8) was the champion after scoring nett 43, 22 in and 21 out, eating last year's champion Chipiliro Lungu, who scored 42, 24 in and 19 out with a handicap of 24.

Playing his first competitive game against a field of 71 golfers, Wanangwa Thindwa felt what it is like in the course when he came back with nett 13, 4 in and 9 out, to become the most golf.

Zomba Gymkhana Club captain Gustav Kaliwo applauded the golfers for their support, saying he was proud to preside over the prize presentation for such a huge turn-up.

"Some have come as far as Lilongwe, Limbe, Thyolo, Mulanje and Blantyre clubs and that's something we cherish here," he said.

"You have made a difference to our golf and we promise to reciprocate :hrough visiting your respective clubs like we have done all these years.

"We also thank the sponsors, who have enticed you here. I must say UGI were marvellous in their organisation of the tournament.

"They were just spectacular and we hope and plead that they should come again next year," he said, attracting a huge round of applause.

The former UGI's General Manager Operations Bardon Mbera said it was their pleasure to sponsor the tournament for the second consecutive year and that they were impressed with the turn up.

"We felt obliged to come back because we have received a good response in terms of business since we were here last year," he said.

"Zomba is the University city and our big client is the University itself, but we have now acquired new clients since we came here to sponsor our first tournament.

"Zomba has been neglected in as far a sponsorship is concerned but we feel this should be our home.

"We appreciate the support from golfers because you have followed us wherever we have gone for a tournament and we don't take that for granted," he said.

He also announced that they have just acquired a local strategic partner — National Bank of Malawi — who are their shareholders and they would soon open an office in Mzuzu.

By Duncan mlanjira, The Daily Times Newspaper

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