PROFESSIONAL golfer Nyasha Muyambo became the inaugural winner of the Washington State Zimbabwe Golf Association (Waziga) Charity Golf Tournament, which was held for the first time in Zimbabwe at Royal Harare on Friday night.
The competition was held at three different venues in Harare teeing off at Borrowdale Brooke on Wednesday before moving to Chapman the following day and concluding at Royal Harare.
Muyambo, shot rounds of 71,72 and 69 in the three rounds to finish on 4 – under – Par 212, beating Pride Sembo and Visitor Mapwanya into a tie for second place, five strokes adrift after grossing 217.
Sembo carded 70 75 and 72 while Mapwanya recorded 72 74 and 71 in the three-day Pro/Am event.
Muyambo walked away with a US$7 200 winners' cheque while the runners-up got US$2 700 each.
The Waziga charity golf champion dedicated the win to his late friend Zhanta Chiura, son of Allen Chiura, the Waziga founding member and vice-chairman of the Sports and Recreation Commission, who passed on back in October.
“This is an important one for me. I lost a great friend of mine around October and I was away, I was not able to come for his funeral. But I really want to dedicate this tournament and this win to the brother I lost, Zhanta Chiura,” Muyambo said.
“I would also want to thank Waziga for putting up such a great tournament. And the cause behind it (is amazing) I haven’t seen so much giving in quite some time. Lastly I want to thank the people who support me. My family, my wife is here and also members at Chapman Golf Club, people who help with advice and support.”
- Muyambo wins Waziga Charity Golf tournament
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The women Championship Division crown went to Yolanda Mubayiwa who grossed 234 while Shamiso Qiang was second, three strokes further behind.
At least 120 golfers took part in the competition, which also included amateur golfers as well as junior boys and girls contest.
Waziga president Jonathan Mvududu was happy with the event as a whole.
“It was a fantastic event, surprisingly well supported. When we booked for 120 players we thought we were being too ambitious, but we ended with 124 golfers. It’s overwhelming and fitting to our vision of building up a charity culture,' he said."
“We also want to see a situation where we will sponsor at least two Zimbabwe juniors to participate at Doral Golf tournament (US annual junior competition), we want to build a foundation for a junior golf academy where we want to see kids from as young as seven years taking the necessary lessons to excel in golf.”
Waziga is also planning to start and promote competitions for women professional golfers, which are virtually non-existent in the country.
Sports Minister Kirsty Coventry was also excited by the Waziga initiative.
“This event is inspiring because this is all of our diaspora that have been living mainly in America for the last 23 years. They have been getting together in the US to raise funds to send back to Zimbabwe using golf," Coventry said.
“They focus on 10 different programmes in each and every province and this is the first time that they are playing the tournament here at home which is exciting and really great.”
The event managed to raise more than US$25 000 for the 10 charities they support in the 10 provinces across the country.
SRC director general Eltah Nengomasha was the guest of honour at the awards ceremony.
