Four golfers for Standard Bank Int’l tourney identified
John Mphande and Connie Muguvu put up a grand show to win the Standard Bank Invitational Golf Tournament played in the fresh-grown greens of Nchalo Sports Club in Chikwawa on Saturday.
The triumph earned Mphande and Muguvu alongside their runners-up Smith Sibale and Roza Mbilizi respectively, participation in the international tournament that Malawi will host at Lilongwe Golf Club in August this year.
According to Standard Bank head of corporate and investment banking Frank Chantaya, the tournament will bring together golfers from Southern and East African countries where the bank has operations.
“Today’s tournament is even more in that it marks the start of a series of golf tournaments that Standard Bank in Malawi and at group level will be hosting in the second half of the year and I am proud to announce that we in Malawi, won the rights to host the first one. If these golfers excel, they will be eligible to play at the Mauritius Open later in the year,” he said.
Chantaya said Saturday’s tournament was aimed at creating a platform of interaction between the bank and its partners.
“Golf is a passion point amongst our client base and traditionally, we in the bank and our partners have rallied around the sport over the years to discuss matters of mutual interest aiming to move us forward together,” Chantaya said.
On the course, Mphande, who is Nchalo golf captain, led by example and registered 38 points with a vintage display on back nine in which he amassed 20 points.
“I am surprised to win because I haven’t played for almost a year due to work commitments,” said Mphande whose runner-up Sibale had 34 points while Clement Chilingulo finished on third place with 34 points.
In ladies category, Muguvu, who had 40 points, displayed sheer character on hole eight on which she had a birdie.
“That changed everything and I knew I was going to win. I feel happy and look forward to taking part in the international tournament,” said.
Mbilizi registered 30 points, four clear of third-placed Margaret Mukwenah.
The champions got an iPhone and a trophy each as prizes while the runners-up received a Samsung S6 edge and those that came third, got Samsung Note4 each.
