28 Jun 2016

Makgadikgadi Open defending champion, Peter Podise, of Francistown golf club defended his title at the two-day Makgadikgadi Open tournament in Sowa over the weekend.

Podise, who is also the national team captain as well as the treasurer of Botswana Golf Union (BGU), hailed the tournament for bringing together golf players and helped  prepare for national team selection. 

Podise noted that time was ripe for golf players across all the clubs to prepare young players who will take over from them as they retire from the game in the near future .

He urged the clubs to bring along young players at such tournaments so that they could learn and appreciated the course. 

Regarding attendance of the golfers, which was way below the expected number of 60 in which only 35 players came mainly from the north, he explained that it was as  a result that the tourney’s dates clashed with the desert race hence many other people went to the race citing in particular those from the south. 

He thus implored the organisers to  look out at the calendar of sporting events so that they avoid clashed which may have impact on other sporting activities. 

He nonetheless appreciated the northern clubs for supporting one another at any given tournament adding in that it also helps up   their performance as well for the game itself.

Praising the host club representative of Botswana Golf Union John Dzungu said the annual tourney is one of the BGU majors which bring together clubs as well as the players to give one another tough competition which at the end of the tourney each one of them celebrates the outstanding performance.   

He cherished the partnership they have with their sponsor Botash noting that he hopes that their partnership go a long way so that they can continue to play the game and bring new players to continue with the legacy upon their departure. 

He therefore highlighted to them that this year as part of their efforts to build up the sport even further, the northern challenge which was initiated by then BGU president Simon Ramphethu is back as well as the Orapa/Sowa challenge which added that because Sowa does not have the numbers it will pair with Francistown and Selibe Phikwe clubs for the challenge to match Orapa. 

 Meanwhile other winners were high court judge Lot Moroka who won the overall best net for B division with Lucky Mudongo of Chobe golf club crowned the champion for B division. 

Leroy Pearmain came second to Podise. In the ladies category, Gaone Golowe of Orapa became the women’s champion with Ntando Rampethu being the runner up. 

Podise received P2500.00 voucher from Game store while Golowe got P2000.00 voucher. Ends