So much has been said about the 2014 Tusker Malt Uganda Open, but now, it is down to work as the amateurs and professionals take to the Uganda Golf Club.
The quartet from the Sunshine Tour, TC Chramba, Teboho Sefatsa, Alan Michell and Farayi Chitengwa arrived today ahead of the tournament that tees off tomorrow (Wednesday). The four immediately got down to business, taking to the course in the PRO-AM event on Tuesday to acquaint themselves with the course.
“The Sunshine tour players arrived and I believe that the golfing fraternity and fans will witness some of the best golfing action. This year is special because we have a high caliber field,” Herbert Rwamibazi, the Tournament Director said.
He added that the crunch ties in the four rounds planned for the open will make the tournament that has so far dwarfed any other hosted in the country not only bigger but also better.
Nyimpindi Mabunda, the Managing Director of Uganda Breweries Limited says that the partnership between the union and the brewery will continue to flourish just as the popularity that the game has gained.
“We know that golf in Uganda is growing as shown by the interest the youth are showing in the game. The defending champions are prime examples. As Uganda Breweries Limited and Tusker Malt, this is an incentive to give the game a befitting platform to flourish,” he stated.
At just 27 years, Chitengwa also referred to as Ferrari by his peers, is the youngest of the Sunshine Tour Players who will be taking part in this year’s Tusker Malt Uganda Open. He is just fresh from claiming his maiden Zambezi Tour Title with a one shot victory at the 2014 Open Classic at Chapman Golf Club.
The son of Lweis Muridzo, a renowned Zimbabwean golf coach, Chitengwa has set his sights on more silverware and a shot at the prestigious Sunshine Tour. TC Charamba, another Zimbabwean looking at winning the Tusker Malt Open became only the third black golfer to win on the Sunshine Tour when he claimed the SAA Pro-Am Invitational in 2006. In 2008, he won the MTC Namibia PGA Championship and finished a career best 27th on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit.
He is the Winner of the Zimbabwe Order of Merit for three consecutive years from 2000 – 2002. Charamba was awarded player of the year in 2001 and 2002. Barely two weeks ago, Charamba underlined his intentions by claiming the annual Siphiwe Nyanda golf tournament that was held at the Swazi Royal Golf Course in Swaziland.
The other two players, South Africans, Alan Michell and Teboho Sefatsa will also give the Ugandan professionals good competition as they prepare to level up against internationally seeded golfers.