TZ golfers take lessons from Africa Amateur Golf
SOUTH AFRICA: TANZANIA’S top elite golfers have gained valuable lessons despite not performing as well as expected in the recently concluded 2025 Africa Amateur Golf Championship at the Leopard Creek Country Club in South Africa.
The prestigious championship, organised by The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A), brings together Africa’s top male and female amateur golfers.
Samuel Kileo, who competed in the men’s category, Madina Iddi, and Vicky Elias, who competed in the women’s Invitational event, represented Tanzania in the championship.
In the men’s category, Kileo, from Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) Lugalo Golf Club in Dar es Salaam, competed against 72 golfers in a 72-hole stroke play format, with a two-round cut.
Unfortunately, he struggled in his debut appearance, carding +24 (83, 85) in the first two rounds, leading to an early exit.
In the women’s event, Madina, from Arusha Gymkhana Club (AGC), and Vicky, from Lugalo, also fell short of expectations.
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Madina finished 16th out of 21 top African female golfers after posting an aggregate score of +32 (79, 86, 83) over three rounds. She tied with Uganda’s Peace Kabasweka (86, 82, 80).
Vicky, however, was forced to withdraw early due to illness. She began experiencing severe head pain during the first round on Wednesday, where she carded 86 gross before being unable to continue.
Speaking to the ‘Sunday News’, Vicky confirmed she is on the path to recovery.
“I’m doing well and continuing to recover. The doctor told me it will take a few more days before I fully recover,” she explained.
Despite the setbacks, both players remain optimistic about improving their World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points and returning to South Africa to correct their mistakes.
They emphasised that they would not give up but would continue preparing to achieve their dream of winning the Africa title.
Madina stressed: “My game was extremely tough; I was unlucky on a few holes. In the second and final round, I hit eight balls into the water, which led to double and triple bogies on my scores. “I cannot give up. It took me over 10 years to win the Uganda Ladies Open 2024.
Even when I won the All-Africa Challenge Trophy individual title in Accra, Ghana, in 2018, it was a long journey. This, too, will take time, but I will not lose hope.”
South Africa’s Gia Raad, who finished third in last year’s inaugural Africa Amateur Women’s Invitational, took a threeshot lead over last year’s runner-up Meghan Brown going into the final round.
She went on to win the title with an impressive aggregate score of -4 (72, 69, 71).
