Tri-nations Jnr Golf starts today
Tri-Nations International Junior Golf Tournament starts today at Lilongwe Golf Club (LGC) with an opening ceremony while the actual tee-off is slated for tomorrow morning.
According to Golf Union of Malawi (GUoM) vice-president Hudson Kantwanje, the annual tournament has attracted hosts Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe and will end on Saturday.
“This year’s competition is unique as each team will have 10 players comprising six boys and four girls under the age 19, competing,” he said.
The Malawi team, which is being coached by Chris Kachiguma and Dingaan Chirwa, comprises Doreen Lazaro, Jenipher Chitsanzo, Whiteman Brown, Chris Mzokomera, Kelvin Mpanje and Ekari Mvula (LGC), Zita Rodrick, Aadil Parker (Blantyre Sports Club) Rashid Salim and Ganizani Lusho Tembo (Country Club Limbe). Elizabeth Mvula is the team official.
“Malawi has improved a lot lately, especially after embarking on the junior golf development project where we have recruited girls and one of them, Zita Rodrick, is now playing off handicap 28 within just a year. We are also proud to have Aadil who plays off handicap 1.
“We are hopeful that the team will do well and that this project will continue as it is a nursery for our senior team that participates at the Zone VI Games,” said Kachiguma.
Kantwanje, who is also the tournament’s director, said the main sponsor of the tournament is Royal and Ancient (R & A) of Scotland
“But there are also other companies, organisations and individuals that have supported this competition such as Malawi Revenue Authority [MRA], Malawi National Council of Sports [MNCS], Marsh (Malawi) Limited, TNM, Airtel Malawi, Alliance Capital Investments, Hallmark Creations, Malawi Telecommunications Limited [MTL]and Nico General Insurance.”
Kantwanje also thanked the organising committee for the tireless efforts they have put in for this event for a job well done as they started working on this in May 2016.
The Tri-Nations Junior Golf tournament is an annual event, which started 10 years ago, and was originally competed for by Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi.
“In 2012, Botswana were invited to join and they accepted and thus the name changed to Quad-Nations Junior Golf Tournament but for this year, it has reverted to Tri-Nations because Botswana pulled out at the eleventh hour,” he said.
Malawi have never won the event while Zimbabwe have won it a record seven times. Zambia have won twice.
