Self-belief and commitment, capped with a fine performance, saw Tanzanian female golfer Angel Eaton being crowned champion in the 2013 Zimbabwe Ladies Golf Union Open stroke play.
By Own Correspondent
Eaton, who became the first Tanzanian golfer to take part in this tournament, had to endure a grueling four-day journey of 2 343 kilometres from Dar-es-Salaam to Harare by bus to take part in this prestigious event.
The country’s biggest ladies’ golf event was played at Borrowdale Brook last weekend and attracted a strong field of 72 golfers from the region and Eaton claimed a sensational four stroke victory over pre-tournament favourite, top Zimbabwean golfer Batsirai Tilowakuti.
Eaton scored 231 points while the runner-up and recently crowned Kenyan Open champion Tilowakuti had a total of 235 points over the three-day tourney.
Warren Hills’ seasoned golfer Loveness Chandavengerwa proved too good for the A Division, scoring 263 points, followed by Zambia Chola Oka who got the better of Nicki Lashbrook on a count out after both players finished on 271 points.
The B Division winner was Bulawayo’s Rodna Mutasa on 178 points and runner-up Borrowdale Brooke’s Nina Geyser sitting on 187 points.
The highlight of this year’s tournament was nine-year-old Margret Nyamukondiwa who settled for second in the Stablefold C Division.
The Hatcliffe Primary School kid, who is also a junior member at Wingate Golf Club, scored an aggressive 68 points but it was not good enough to beat winner Liz Cuerden who shot 74 points.
Neighbours Zambia sent a total of 10 golfers accompanied by their Lady Captain Mono Mwila.
Acting President of the Zimbabwe Ladies Golf Union, Nance Dube expressed satisfaction with this year’s event.
“Overally, the tournament went on very well and many thanks go to Old Mutual who were our only sponsor. We hope next year we will have more corporates rallying behind the ladies’ tournament”, she said.
