US-based top Zimbabwean female amateur golfer, Margret Nyamukondiwa carded a four-over par 76 in the final round to clinch the Zambia Ladies Open Amateur Strokeplay Championship by six shots at Bonanza Golf Course in Lusaka at the weekend.
Nyamukondiwa led a clean sweep of all podium places by Zimbabwean golfers as he carded solid rounds of 76, 72 and 76 during the annual tournament for a 54-hole gross of eight over par 221.
The Chapman Golf Club rising star, who was making a return to continental competition, after a successful debut season at Westen Texas College in the US, finished six shots clear of compatriot Kudzi Mandava.
Mandava, who was recently crowned the Royal Harare Golf Club female club champion carded rounds of 75, 81 and 74 for a three-round total of 23p while Yollander Mubaiwa (79, 79 & 74) settled for third position with gross total of 232.
Rising junior golfer Primrose Chikwaya, also from Royal Harare finished in position five with a gross of 238.
Separating the four Zimbabweans who managed to make it to the top five was Zambian, Kaela Mulenga who was five shots behind Mubaiwa with a gross total of 237 points and was just one shot ahead of Chikwaya who finished on 238.
Chikwaya, who recently secured a podium finish at the prestigious Africa Junior Golf Challege in Uganda, carded scores of 85, 77 and 76 in her three rounds while ahead of her and in fourth place, Mulenga had scores of 77, 77 and 83.
Players from seven countries across the continent took part in the championship.
The seven nations were the hosts, Zambia, South Africa, Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria and Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwean female golfers have been playing well in recent months with some of their notable achievements coming during the All Junior Golf Championship in April where they finished second, behind South Africa.
Zimbabwe Ladies Golf Union President, Margeret Vera, said she was delighted with performances by local players in Zambia.
“We are extremely proud of the ladies. We are so happy that this is happening now, a lot of work has been put in and good results are beginning to show. We have become prominent and we wish that more people could support us,” said Vera.
In the second week of July, Zimbabwe is set to host the Gilbertson and Page Trophy, which is a triangular championship alongside Kenya and Zambia.
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