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Mollel wins Lina Tour in sudden-death playoff

KILIMANJARO: NURU Mollel won the exciting first edition of the Lina Professional Golf (PG) Tour Pro-Am competition in a sudden-death playoff over close challenger Fadhili Nkya at the TPC Moshi Club in Kilimanjaro Region over the weekend.

The 72-hole stroke play tournament, organised by the Saidi Nkya family in collaboration with Tanzania Ladies Golf Union (TLGU), is exclusively for Tanzanian professionals and amateur golfers respectively.

The tournament has been introduced as part of activities to remember the late Lina Saidi Nkya, who passed away on January 19, 2021, in Moshi. The late Lina was a golf player and a leader at national and club levels.

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The event was forced to go into a sudden-death playoff, where Mollel went on to sink a birdie at the par 4-hole no. 18 to claim the 6.8m/- prize money that senior golfer Saidi Nkya handed over.

Mollel from Arusha Gymkhana Club (AGC) and Fadhili of Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club (DGC) were tied with seven-under-par 281 gross each after a four-day 72-hole competition.

Both players started strong for a co-lead with four-under-par 68 after the first round on Thursday, but Nkya lost ground in the second round with level par 72, while Mollel took charge with one under 71 to lead by a stroke.

Nkya who plays to honour his late mother, Lina, went Sunday close round a shot drifted to Mollel who led with 6 under-pars after adding another 71 in the third round so as his opponent.

But Nkya came even stronger in the exciting battle to close with two-under-par 70 to level the score with Mollel who carded 71 to force the sudden death.

Nkya awarded 4.3m/- after came second, Abdallah Yusuf from Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) Lugalo golf club of Dar es Salaam total 8 over-par 296 to finish third and foot home a 3.4m/-, with ten over par 298 Frank Mwinuka also from Lugalo awarded 2.7m/- and 5th place Isaac Wanyeche from Kili Golf Club of Arusha carded total 13 over to finish 5th and.

Other players who won cash prizes are 6th place Hassan Kadio of DGC 13 over (1.2m/-), while 7th to 10th winners, Rajab Iddi +17, John Saidi +19, Salum Dilunga +19 and Elisante Lembric +19) awarded 480,000/- each.

For elite amateurs who are handicap 5 and below golfers, an overall winner host Ally Isanzu carded a total 5 over to get 2.2m/-, the second place George Sembi also of TPC with 14 over awarded 1.3m/-, the third Isiaka Daudi (+16) received 900,000/- while Ibrahim Gabriel finish fourth to get 700,000 while Victor Joseph and Elisha Fadhili share 5th place for 570,000/- prize.