Sheefeni Nikodemus
1 June 2011
NAMIBIAN golfers are set to play against top ranked South African opponents in a “landmark Ruder Cup-styled” mid-amateur test, starting this weekend.
The organisers yesterday announced that the two-fold tournament will begin with the individual 36-hole National Championships at the Windhoek Country Club on Saturday, while the 72-hole team event will be played between Monday and Tuesday.
“This is a landmark event … the first of its kind in Namibia,” said Namibia’s team manager and non-playing captain Marc Gregan.
“We will be playing against a strong team from South Africa. We are not as strong but the team knows that home-ground advantage will give them a boost.”
According to tournament director Francois Hanekom, should the current event prove successful, the plan is to expand it to include other neighbouring countries.
Namibia first organised its mid-amateur tournament last year, the success of which has now led to the hosting of its first ever international event. The tournament is open to male golfers aged 35 years of age and older, who are official members of golf clubs in Namibia.
“If all goes well, this will become a yearly event,” said Hanekom. “We will also be looking at inviting other countries to play in the tournament. Our wish is that we can grow mid-amateur [golf] in the country.”
The tournament is co-sponsored by AfricaOnline and the Windhoek Country Club.
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Nation to Host SA in Mid-Amateur Golf