Malawi PGA tour attracts top golfers
Professional Golfers Association’s (PGA) Warm Heart tour has attracted top golfers in Africa to participate in the tournament next month.
The lineup includes Zimbabwean Tongoona Charamba, who became the third black golfer to win on the Sunshine Tour when he claimed the South African Airways (SAA) Pro-Am Invitational in 2006.
In 2008, the Zimbabwean won the MTC Namibia PGA Championship and finished a career best 27th on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit.
He has made $125 000 (about K91 milion) in total earnings on the tour.
Another Zimbabwean, Ryan Cairns, who won the hole-in-one Toyota Prado TX at the Kenyan KCB Masters last week, is also expected to participate.
Local professional golfer Paul Chidale also participated in the Kenyan KCB Masters.
Some of the top golfers interested to take part in the event are Greg Snow and CJ Wangai (Kenya), Pride Sembo, Nyasha Muyambo , Brian Gondo, Robson Chinhoi, Tonderayi Masunga, and Julius Kamalizeni from (Zimbabwe), Irvin Mazibuko from (South Africa), Bube Samutela, Patrick Mwendapole, Aaron Simfukwe and Sydney Wemba (Zambia), Meshak Zwane, Jamie Pennington, Moses Magagula and Peter Coach (Kingdom of Eswatini), Joseph Gabriel (Nigeria) and Prince Amposaha Quaning from Ghana.
“This is the first time for us to have such a tournament and to have such top golfers in the tour is both overwhelming and encouraging. This event will put Malawi on the map,” said an excited PGA Malawi chairperson Partridge Shycal.
PGA Malawi was formed last year with support from Golf Union of Malawi.
So far seven golfers, Dingaani Chirwa, Adam Sailesi, Gabriel Kambalame, Paul Chidale, Victor Kachepatsonga, Kondwani Mphulla and Shycal have turned professional.
In an interview, Sailesi said he is not afraid of competition from top golfers in Africa.
“Playing against the best brings the best in me. This is what we have been looking forward to.That is the only way to improve our game,” said Sailesi. n
