Mapwanya clinches one-shot victory at Seed Co Malawi Open

Visitor Mapwanya

ZIMBABWEAN professional golfer Visitor Mapwanya carded a one-under-par 71 to secure a one-shot victory in the Seed Co Malawi Open Golf Championship at Lilongwe Golf Club on Friday.

Mapwanya, who led from the opening round, held off a late charge from his compatriot and defending champion Robson Chinhoi to finish on 12-under 276 and claim his second win on the African circuit this season.

The Masvingo-born golfer claimed his first tour win of the season at the Chevron Golf Tour’s Mapungubwe Challenge in Ndola, Zambia in early September.

Chinhoi, a recent winner at the Uganda Open, also closed with a one-under-par 71 which meant he had to settle for second place on 11-under-par after Mapwanya held firm under pressure in the closing stages.

Ghana-based Zimbabwean golfer Biggy Chibvuri and Malawian  Paul Chidale finished on a two-way tie for third position  two-under-par 286. Chapman Golf Club-based golfer Nyasha Muyambo, who recently claimed his maiden Safari Tour win in Kenya, finished in a tie for sixth position on one-over-par.

It was a fruitful week for Zimbabwean professional golfers at the Seed Co Malawi Open which is one of the leading events on the African circuit. Of the top 15 players who made the cut after the halfway mark, eight of them were Zimbabweans.

Some of the country’s leading locally based players such as Mapwanya, Chinhoi and Muyambo will now head to Kenya for the third leg of the Kenya Open Golf Limited organized Safari Tour whose opening round is set for today at the PGA Baobab Course Vipingo Ridge in Kilifi County.

Bulawayo Golf Club-based golfer Ignatius Mketekete was initially scheduled to tee off in the Kenyan event, but withdrew from the tournament yesterday.

During the second leg at Limuru Country Club, Muyambo posted six under par, to claim the title, beating his compatriot Mapwanya into second place.

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