Hawa shines in TZ Ladies Golf tourney opener
ARUSHA: IT was a bright start for the Tanzania golfers, Hawa Wanyeche and Madina Iddi as the duo carded the best scorers in the Tanzania Ladies Open Golf Championship’s first 18-hole battle at Arusha Gymkhana Club course yesterday.
But to the rest, the going was very tough for all ladies as the course seemed very challenging.
Hawa from Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) Lugalo Golf Club of Dar es Salaam again started on a sound note at ladies’ major tournaments carded four over par 76 to lead by three shots in the field of top ladies golfers from Kenya, Uganda and host Tanzania.
She did the same at the Uganda Ladies Open in Entebbe Golf Club course before ending overall second behind eventual Champion her country-mate Madina.
ALSO READ: Wanyeche leads at Uganda Ladies Golf Open
Fresh from winning the Uganda Ladies Open title Madina played at her home course however the opening day was not as easy as expected said,” I have straggled all day long.”
She started at third place five shots drift to leaders Hawa after carded 81 strokes.
Hawa stood an edge above her closest challenger Kenyan Mercy Nyanchama who returned 7 plus 79 strokes the only two players managed to beat seventy.
Host Aalaa Somji who finished overall 5th at the Uganda battle carded 84 to start at 4th, while Kenyan Bianca Ngecu started at 5th with 86 strokes.
Other tournament favourites who carry Tanzania hopes Neema Olomi of AGC and defending champion Vicky Elias from TPDF Lugalo started on the wrong swing.
Olomi is at 6th after returning 87, while Vicky also put herself in a dangerous position to lose the title with 89 shots.
Vicky is the defending champion and won her first major title at the Kili Golf Club in Arusha last year.
She carded 233 (76,80,77) over three rounds to beat her closest challenger Madina by a stroke and win the title.
The prestigious event, spanning three days, also features two subsidiary categories men’s Divisions A, B and C and juniors who tee off today.
The annual Tanzania Open organised by the Tanzania Ladies Golf Union (TGU) is a 54-hole golf tournament that climaxed Sunday at the same course.
