Bumper entry for Lina PG Moro battle

DAR ES SALAAM: THERE is a bumper entry for the Lina Professional Golfers (PG) Tour Pro-Am that tees off at the Morogoro Gymkhana Club in Morogoro region today.

The Lina PG tour enters its second edition at the Morogoro battle and has already observed a tremendous increase of participants compared to the first edition.

Organised by Said Nkya family in collaboration with the Tanzania Ladies Golf Union (TLGU), the event is meant to honour the late Lina Nkya, who was a wife to Nkya.

TLGU Honorary Secretary, Yasmil Chali, confirmed to the ‘Daily News’ in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday that preparation is finalised for the four-day 72-hole tournament to tee off.

Chali was thrilled to get good responses from the golfers in a short period as over 120 confirmed to take part in the Morogoro event. “I want to thank all golfers for their support; there is a huge increase of participants compared to the last event that ended at TPC Moshi, in Kilimanjaro region the previous month.

“We had a successful TPC Moshi club event, over 80 players took part, but to have 120 in Morogoro within one month is incredible,” added Chali who also is Lina’s daughter.

She said that over 25 professional golfers and 24 elite amateurs will compete in the 72-hole tee-off from today that is set to climax on Sunday.

She noted that over 72 golfers will compete at the 36-hole subsidies categories scheduled to tee off on Saturday and Sunday.

The tournament is also organised to give golfers a platform to showcase skills, improve their standards to compete in major competitions and at the same time earn hefty cash prize money to improve their lives.

Defending champion Arusha Gymkhana Club (AGC)’s Nuru Mollel who won the exciting first edition in a sudden-death playoff over close challenger Fadhil Nkya is among competitors. Mollel claimed the 6.8m/- prize for winning the pros title as second-placed Fadhil of Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club (DGC) was awarded 4.3m/-.

For elite amateurs handicapped 5 and below golfers, an overall winner Ally Isanzu carded a total 5-over to get 2.2m/- and will also defend his title.

The same winning amount for both pros and amateurs await Morogoro winners. Said Nkya was quoted as saying the reason for going around doing golf tourism is due to the fact that his wife loved the game and helped so many, hence they want to continue where she left off, by supporting others to excel in the game.