CONGRATS ZAMBIA!

By Mike Mubanga

In Devanshi Team Zambia trusted

You all need to give kudos to the Zambia ladies golf team for their splendid performance at the just ended third edition of the 2013 East and Central African Challenge.

Leading from the first to the last day was no joke especially that the four member team started on a shaky note, with an acute ankle injury almost forcing US-based golfer Melissa Nawa to pull out of the Challenge.

But against all odds, the country’s Devanshi Naik, Hilda Edwards, Tina and her sister Melissa Nawa upset the likes of Uganda- who also had their best golfer Flavia Namukula to spur Zambia to victory.

In Devanshi we trust, was a theme song for most golf lovers watching in the scotching sun, with the hands placed on their foreheads to create an ‘artificial cap’, just to see how the 2012 sportswoman of the year would perform.

From Sunday's 82, Tina improved her performance by one stroke, posting 81, but went on to be the last round’s best golfer on 76, an improvement which deserves credit.

Overall, the Zambia team managed to post a 717 gross for the best of three scores.

Dethroned champions, Tanzania pushed to second position with a 750 gross score, while Uganda was third with at 767 gross.

Here’s a few quotes from Team Zambia.

on the cards: Melissa recording her scores

Melissa on injury: The injury came at the worst possible time that it would have come, but I am glad I managed to help the team as best I could.

Melissa on Tina: Tina, I am more than proud of my sister- I never imagined that me and Tina would be playing side by side. We are in the top four in the country.

Tina on Melissa: My sister is a very strong competitor, her scores counted in the first two days, showing everyone that her contribution was vital.

Sister Love: Melissa and Tina embrace

Tina on Triumph: It’s made me a happy person. Beating Tanzania is a very good achievement and I know we are a very strong team because we’ve beaten them by so much they couldn’t even catch up from the first day.

Devanshi : All Smiles

 Devanshi Naik: the Zambian team played a solid three rounds of golf. I struggled a little more, the front nine was a bit shaky, but I took it easy and yes, the results have shown.