The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
FOLLOWING success of the inaugural Poweride Elephant Hills Golf Classic held at the Elephant Hills Golf Course in Victoria Falls last weekend, Poweride Safaris and Car Rentals are making big for the Poweride Open at the same venue next year where the biggest prize is a Sports Utility Vehicle worth US$40 000.
There is already a date for the 2023 Poweride Golf Open which is set to take place from 7-10 April at the Elephant Hills Golf Course.
A total of 95 golfers took part in this year’s Poweride Elephant Hills Golf Classic held over two days. It is the success of that event that has motivated Thamsanqa Sikhosana, the Poweride director to set in motion plans for next year where US$50 000 is being set aside for a much bigger tournament.
Sikhosana, who was excited by the success of last weekend’s tournament said next year is going to be huge as compared to this year.
Thamsanqa Sikhosana
“Plans are already underway for the Poweride Open during Easter holidays. That one should be bigger and better.
We are setting aside a package of US$50 000, from that U$10 000 is for professionals. For amateurs, there are four small cars, four fridges, four gas stoves, four air fryers and four golf bags. The biggest prize is the SUV worth US$40 000 for a hole in one,’’ said Sikhosana.
He outlined that they had opted for Easter so as to attract golfers from all over Zimbabwe as well as southern Africa.
“We have chosen the Easter holidays so that we get players from the region, they come in Friday, play golf Saturday and Sunday then leave on Monday,’’ Sikhosana said.
Ignatius Mketekete of Chapman Golf Club won the Poweride Elephant Hills Golf Classic, which saw him walk away with the US$1 500 cash prize. Mketekete had a gross score of 72 and 72 again Sunday for a total of 144, level par to shake off the challenge of Thembelani Vundla and other professional golfers who were vying for the title.
Ignatius Mketekete
On the amateur section competition, Elephant Hills Golf Club male members used home advantage to the fullest as they clean swept the winners for all the categories. Josphat Phiri, who was a favourite from the start was the winner of the A Division with 72 points for the Saturday and Sunday Stable ford scores.
Another Elephant Golf Club member, Tees Makore took the crown for the B Division on 73 points. The C Division went to Nilan Bhukhan who had a score of 68.
Veteran, Patience Utete of Hwange Golf Club took the honours in the women’s section on 63 points, shaking off the challenge of Sakhile Ndiweni of Harry Allen Golf Club on 61 points.
Besides local golfers, the other participants came from Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Swaziland and Zambia.
All prizes were won last weekend except a Mitsubishi Mirage worth US$6 000 which was for a hole in hole, which all the golfers failed to achieve. — Twitter @Mdawini_29
