Zimbabwean Scare Ahead Of Uganda Golf Open

The pair of Zimbabwe’s Tusker Malt Uganda Open registered players Tongoona Charamba and Farahi Chitengwa were at the weekend, the winner andrunner up of the annual Siphiwe Nyanda Golf Tournament held at Swazi Royal Golf Course that concluded after 54 holes on in Ezulwini.

Charamba, who is fondly known as ‘TC’, carded a score of 70 in the third and final round to come out on top on eight-under-par 208, pocketing  E27 000 at the Royal Swazi Spa Golf Course at Ezulwini.

The celebrated event played in honour of South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) stalwart, Siphiwe Nyanda, featured a field of 75 professional golfers from Southern African countries that included Zimbabwe, South Africa, Swaziland and Zambia.

“It’s my first time to compete in the event but I think the experience of playing in the same course in previous Sunshine Tour tournaments has come in handy,”  the champion said. “I did not play well in the first and last round but managed to win. I still feel I should have done better. I now turn my efforts to the upcoming Uganda Open in East Africa.”

Chitengwa, carded 67 73 70 six-under to finish second, two shots behind TC. Both players arrive in the country on 1st September 2014.

With a record entry of 60 professionals in the fray, Uganda’s top players Jinja-based professional Emmanuel Onito Opio and Deo Akope know the foreign legion of 40 elite golfers that has registered for the big money about Shs100m event and are winning tournaments prior to Uganda’s top showpiece will be a hard nut to crack.

All teams were expected to arrive on Wednesday and the real challenge will then begin on Friday ahead of the crowning ceremony on Sunday at Entebbe Club.