Tanzania’s golfer forced to withdraw from Africa Championship

SOUTH AFRICA: ONE of Tanzania’s best elite amateur golfers, Vicky Elias has been forced to withdraw early from the 2025 Africa Amateur Golf Championship in South Africa owing to sickness.

The prestigious competition, organised by The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A), brings together Africa’s finest male and female amateur players and began on Wednesday at the famed Leopard Creek Country Club in South Africa.

Vicky, who plays for the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) Lugalo Golf Club in Dar es Salaam, began feeling terrible headaches during the first round on Wednesday, when she carded an 86 gross.

“I had a headache during first round. At first, I thought it was due to the extreme heat, but it worsened overnight and I had to be rushed to the hospital,” Vicky explained.

“I thank God that after treatment, I feel some relief. I also appreciate the organisers and everyone who helped me,” she added.

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However, due to her condition, Vicky had to withdraw from the tournament before the second round on Thursday, leaving Madina Iddi as Tanzania’s sole female representative.

Vicky and Madina are among 21 elite amateur female golfers from Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia and host South Africa invited to compete in the event.

Madina, who started strong with a 79 gross on Wednesday, struggled on Thursday, carding 86 to aggregate +21 after the second round, ending her hopes of clinching the title.

She currently sits in 14th place on the leaderboard. Host Gea Reed led the board with three-under-par (72,69) as the female showdown closed today.

Meanwhile, Ugandan top lady Martha Babirye, who scored 89 in the first round, also withdrew from the tournament.

In the men’s category, Samuel Kileo, also from Lugalo Golf Club, had a challenging tournament and failed to make the cut.

Competing against 72 male golfers in a 72-hole stroke play format, with a two-round cut, Kileo struggled in his maiden appearance at the event. He carded +24 (83, 85) in the first two rounds, resulting in an early exit.

The Africa Amateur Golf Championship, now in its second edition, is an R&A initiative aimed at promoting and developing golf in Africa while helping players improve their World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR)