TNM open golf tourney takes new twist next year
The lucrative TNM Malawi Open Stroke-play golf tournament is expected to take a twist next year as the marriage between Telekom Networks Malawi, official sponsors of the competition and Golf Union of Malawi (GUOM) clocks ten years.
This was disclosed on Sunday, April 10, 2016 by TNM’s chief executive officer Douglas Stevenson as the giant mobile network firm dished out various prizes to winners of this year’s TNM Malawi Open held over three days at the country’s premier golf course of Lilongwe Golf Club (LGC).
“This time next year, the TNM Malawi Open sponsorship will be officially clocking ten years. As we celebrate the 10thanniversary of the biggest golf tournament on the Golf Union calendar, we are promising to come in a different way. The tournament will take a new shape altogether,” pledged Stevenson, drawing loud cheers from the audience.
Turning to this year’s tournament, the TNM boss said the sponsors were hugely impressed with both the response and turn up of 116 golfers from various golf clubs in Malawi.
GUOM vice president Hudson Kantwanje and captain of the host club Charles Mvula took turns saluting TNM for the massive sponsorship.
“Guom appreciates the role TNM has been playing in the development of golf in Malawi. Apart from the Malawi Open, TNM also sponsors junior golf and the national team. The Malawi Open also offers a good platform for Zone VI bout golfers to tune up for the event and it is our hope that as the team flies out to Swaziland on Monday (April 11, 2016) all the players will be in good shape,” said Kantwanje.
Lilongwe based golfer Adam Sailesi, a member of the Zone VI team emerged hero of the three-day event after winning a play-off against Victor Kachepatsonga in the Championship Division.
Playing off handicap 3, the defending champion looked destined to surrender his title to Kachepatsonga after trailing his zero handicap opponent during the first two days but fought back on the back nine to tie with his rival on gross 226.
Paul Chidale (HCP 0) finished third with a gross score of 227.
Canaan Paul won the A-Division with a gross score of 150 followed by the golf captain Mvula on gross 166 and Hassey Hamdan on 166.
The B-Division saw S.P Cho scooping the top prize with a gross of 186 while Gershop Chima Muhamad Master settled for second and third places respectively.
TNM also sponsored a Seniors’ Category which saw veteran Stallard Mpata emerging the best senior golfer followed by Justin Mkandawire and Frank Chinkhandwe on second and third positions respectively.
Witman Brown was the best junior golfer.
In the subsidiary prizes, Moses Limuwa produced the longest drive on the first day with Sefu Tayub emerging the second day’s longest driver.
Cris Nzokomera had the nearest-the-pin on the first day and Mathews Kamanga the second day. The best net on the first day went to Gift Landis while Mvula and Paul shared the best nets on the second and third days respectively.
The winners received assorted prizes ranging from smart phones to data bundles from TNM, who also gave K50,000 worth of airtime to each of the winners in the Championship Division.
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