Golfer Sembi seals Northern Zone Open lead
TANZANIA: HOST George Sembi overcame tough opponents to seal a four-stroke lead after the end of the first round of the Northern Zone Golf Championship yesterday.
The 54-hole three-day competition has drawn over 100 golfers from across the country who teed off in the first 18 holes at the par 72 TPC club course here in Moshi yesterday.
The impressive national team member, Sembi grossed a stunning threeunder par 69 strokes to take an early four-shot lead that put him in a pole position as the event heads to today’s second round. Sembi said hard work in training and focus on the tournament has paid off in his first day of the competition.
He told the ‘Daily News’ on Saturday after his impressive round: “First of all, I want to thank the organisers and Tanzania Golf Union (TGU) for upgrading the status of this competition. For the first time, the event has been upgraded to the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points competition.
TPC Golf Club has for the first time also decorated with the WAGR points competition which delights Sembi and most youths who are competing here. Sembi added: “This situation motivated me to train even harder, I have nothing more than a desire to clinch the title so that my name joins other top players at the world ranking.
“I have prepared well, I knew this is my home course I must do justice and I thank God everything has gone as well according to my plan,” However, Sembi acknowledge the competition is still stiff and there is work ahead of him before fulfilling his dream.
He is right competition is still tough going into today’s second round as four players tied for second place each with one over 73 strokes. They are; Isiaka Daudi from Tanzania Peoples Defence Forces (TPDF) Lugalo Golf Club of Dar es Salaam who is among the two men from Tanzania at WAGR and are preparing to represent the country at the first ever Africa Amateurs Championship to be held in South Africa later February.
Other than Daudi in second place are clubmates Godfrey Gwacha, Michael Massawe and Marius Kajuna each with 73 strokes. Host Ally Isanzu, who like Daudi is also well prepared for the Africa Amateurs showdown. He started at 8th position with 3 over par 75 strokes.
Tanzania so far has only four golfers in WAGR two men and ladies (Vicky Elias and Madina Iddi) who will play in the South African event with all expenses paid by R&A. Elias, who sustained a muscle injury during yesterday’s first round, had to endure playing with right leg pain in three last holes to return 79 gross as Madina missed the showdown due to work responsibilities.
She is hoping to get treatment to return fresh into today’s round. Jaffari Ally, the host club’s Captain was happy that everything went well as his club made history by hosting a WAGR event.
