Zambia and Zimbabwe left to chase host in Gilberson golf

Zambian pair of Lorna Mwenda and Kaela Mulenga thrashed their Kenyan rivals, Mwongeli Nzioka and Diana Munya and managed a narrow victory over the Zimbabwe pair of Batsirai Tilowakuti and Aulia Alfazema. The Kenyan team of Nzioka and Munyao lost 3 and 2 to Zimbabwe pair of Tilowakuti and Alfazema.

In the second match, Zambia’s top amateur lady golfer, Melissa Nawa, 24, and currently studying in the USA, teamed up with veteran golfer Hilda Edwards to beat the Zimbabwe pair of Brenda Leipe and Shamiso Makwara 4 and 3.

Mixed result

Kenya’s Captain Christina Andersen and Mary Monari also beat the Zimbabwe team of Leipe and Makwara but found the going tough against Zambia as they were forced to share the spoils.

In the third and final match, Zambia’s pair of Tina Nawa and Devanish Naik reduced their deficit against  enya’s duo of Naomi Wafula and Mercy Nyanchama. The interesting match was decided with the last putt on the 18th green.

The Zimbabwe pair of Yolanda Mbiway and Maggie Brandy failed to match the firing power of Zambia and Kenya, losing 6 and 5 and 8 and 6 respectively.

At the end of the morning foursomes, Zambia were unbeaten and were leading with 10 points, Kenya were second with six points and Zimbabwe was last with just two points.

In the afternoon singles, Zambia’s Melissa Nawa continued to dominate the field beating Kenya’s Mary Monari 4 and 2 and edging out Zimbabwe’s Maggie Brandt 7 and 6.

However, her sister, Tina Nawa, 16, could not match the experience of Kenya captain Christina Andersen or the resilience of Zimbabwe’s Brenda Leipe, losing both matches.

Andersen beat Leipe 2 and 1 to collect all four points for the host team. Kenya’s young star Naomi Wafula also collected the maximum four points beating Zambia’s Devanshi Naik and Zimbabwe’s Polly Crewe.

Mercy Nyanchama, a colleague of Wafula at the Rose Naliaka Academy, was victorious against Zambia’s Kaela Mulenga but lost to Zimbabwe’s Batsiri Tikiwakuti.

Mwongeli Nzioka beat both Zambia’s Hilda Edwards and Zimbabwe’s Aulia Alfazima 3 and 1 and 3 and 2 respectively. Kenya’s weakest link was Jane Njau, who lost her two matches to Zambia’s Lornah Mwenda and Zimbabwe’s Chingono.

The second test of the Gilberson and Page Trophy tournament will be played at the Muthaiga Golf Club Thursday.