Chidale shines in kenya tourney
Malawi’s top-ranked professional golfer Paul Chidale has finished on position 16 at Nyali Golf & Country Club leg of the Safari Tour Series in Mombasa, Kenya.
He grossed 302 and tied with Kenyan Jacob Okello after the final round of the tournament which attracted over 60 golfers.
Chidale was the only Malawian golfer to reach this far after Victor Kachepatsonga and Simon Moses missed the cut in the second round of the tournament organised by Kenya Open Golf Limited.
Only 20 players make the final cut with the winner decided from total points after the last round and Zimbabwean Robson Chinhoi emerged champion with a gross of 285, according to www.Safari Tours.co.kn.
Professional Golfers Association of Malawi vice-president Patridge Shycal said the Malawi golfers’ performance was encouraging despite two of them failing to make it to the final.
He said: “The performance was not that bad at all. On the first day, Victor and Paul played extremely well because they shot 76 gross and that made them to be within the top 20 while Moses had a very rough day because he posted about 85 and that made him to skip the red line with just one shot.
“Otherwise, he could have been sent home on the very first day because anyone who shoots above 85 is normally not allowed to play the next day since he is deemed not fit to be a professional.”
Shycal however, said the second day performance was an improvement.
He said: “On the second day, Victor failed by shooting 80; Paul had a better day because he shot 75 while Moses shot 79, which was much better than the previous day.
“But it meant that the two [Victor and Moses] were out. Victor missed it by only one shot because they were looking at 153 shot minimum after two qualifying rounds and he grossed 156 while Moses was already out of the race.”
The three golfers made the cut on the first day as Chidale shot 76; Moses had 85 while Kachepatsonga had 76.
On second day, Kachepatsonga grossed 80 while Moses had 79 and failed to make the cut after a total gross of 156 and 164, respectively.
Chidale, on the other hand shot 75 and cruised to the third round with a total gross of 151, making the cut for the third round on position 14.
On Tuesday, Chidale finished the day on position 11 out of over 50 golfers after posting 75 again.
In the final round Chidale shot another 76 to gross 302 after four days of the the tournament.
The three golfers yesterday left for Nairobi for the second tournament to be held at Muthaiga Golf Club from February 6 before the last tour of the series set for Karen Golf Club from February 20.
Shycal appealed for more financial support for the golfers’ up keep allowances.
“The golfers will remain in Kenya for the two more tournaments. We felt it would be expensive for them to come back in between the week-long break and then fly back,” he said.
The golfers were sponsored by Optichem Ltd, Sunseed Oil and Hallmark Creations, who paid for their air tickets while Royal Motors, BCS Computers and individuals such as Justin Mkandawire, Gabriel Kambale, Williams Nuka and Shabil Jussab contributed upkeep allowances.
They are expected back home on February 26.
