LGC keeps women’s golf crown

Lilongwe Golf Club has kept its grip on the EthCo Ladies Interclub Golf Tournament, but the real prize from this year’s contest is swinging beyond the golf course to the education of girls.

LGC 1 retained the championship for a second consecutive year after posting 362 gross strokes at Kasasa Golf Club in Dwangwa, finishing six strokes ahead of Blantyre Sports Club 1.

The two-day tournament, held from September 12 to 13, attracted 59 golfers and raised K20 million for EthCo’s Swinging for Her Future initiative, which supports girls’ education.

LGC 1, made up of Stella Ng’oma, Deborah Lazaro and Ekari Mvula, pocketed K2.7 million after winning the team competition.

BSC 1 finished second on 372 strokes to claim K2.1 million, while BSC 2 was third on 374 strokes and received K1.8 million.

Chakaniza: Mission accomplished

EthCo chief executive officer Lusubilo Chakaniza said the company wanted to use the tournament to create a bigger impact beyond women’s golf.

“We are so happy. What we set out to achieve has come to fruition in full. We have been sponsoring women’s golf exclusively for seven years, but we wanted to make this tournament more impactful, while also empowering women and building the future of young girls through the Swinging for Her Future initiative,” said Chakaniza.

Agriculture Minister Roza Fatch Mbilizi, who was guest of honour and also took part in the tournament, welcomed the growing number of young golfers.

She said the involvement of girls was particularly important as some older women golfers approach retirement.

“It is very significant. There are not many ladies playing golf, and some of us are getting to retire from the game. So, it is very encouraging that there are so many young girls playing,” said Mbilizi.

She commended EthCo for bringing more girls into the sport while supporting their education.

LGC Ladies Captain Mirriam Nankhuni said the team had feared losing the title after a difficult opening day, but regained confidence from the early results.

“The competition that we saw on the first day made us nervous. We really didn’t think we were going to go through, but yesterday’s results gave us positive feedback that we could defend our championship,” said Nankhuni.

In the individual competition, BSC’s Bertha Sagwirika won the Championship Division with a gross score of 179.

LGC’s Deborah Lazaro and Stella Ng’oma tied for second on 181.

The tournament was supported by Press Corporation Plc, Illovo Sugar Malawi, Carbon Dioxide and Allied Products (Private) Limited, Nkhanga Essential Support Services and PressCane Limited.