THE ZIMBABWE Golf Association (ZGA), in partnership with the Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) yesterday launched the regional Windhoek Lager Africa Jacket Championship at the Royal Harare Golf Club.
DANIEL NHAKANISO SPORTS REPORTER
The event will take place in Namibia next year at a date still to be decided in May or early June with players from hosts Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa and Zambia taking part.
According to the ZGA this fantastic new initiative came into fruition after discussions between Windhoek Lager, the ZGA and the other participating country unions during the Zone VI Golf tournament hosted by the Namibia Amateur Golf Union in Windhoek in March this year.
Brian Maphosa, a member of ZGA and the liaison person for Zimbabwe on this championship, said this was an exciting opportunity for local and regional golf.
“We look forward to very competitive golf leading to the finals. Discussions with the initial participating countries have taken place and each participating country’s union or association will choose four existing tournaments in their country which will count towards the Windhoek Lager Africa Jacket Golf Championship. All the players entering these tournaments will be eligible to participate in the Windhoek Lager Africa Jacket Golf Championship.
“Players will compete in three divisions namely A Handicaps; B Handicaps and C Handicaps,” Maphosa said.
Local qualification for the Windhoek Lager Africa Jacket Golf Championship will get underway this weekend at the Leopard Rock Open.
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Other tournaments that will be used to qualify include the Hwange Open (November 28-December 1, the Troutbeck Open (December 13-15) and the Mashonaland South tournament in March next year.
The player ending top of each division will represent the country in Namibia at the Windhoek Lager Africa Jacket Championship to be held in Windhoek at the Windhoek Golf and Country Club.
ZGA’s first vice-president Boniface Chigorimbo said: “What we as the ZGA really appreciate is the fact that the Windhoek Lager Competition is enhancing our existing golfing programme and that we can now offer an extra incentive to our dedicated golfers.”
Paul Norris, head of export marketing at NBL said: “Apart from Namibia, the countries that will be participating in the inaugural tournament are Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa and Zambia.
“We definitely see this expanding in the near future to also include for example Mozambique, Swaziland, Tanzania and Kenya. Who knows where this will go? . . . Maybe one day Tiger Woods would also like to add this trophy to his collection,” Norris added.
