TWO Royal Harare lady golfers Litchel Mandiveyi and Nothando Namuinesu are set to fly the country’s flag at the International Pairs World finals after they emerged as Zimbabwe champions at a thrilling national final which was held at Elephant Hills over the weekend.
The Sterling Hotels International Pairs final, which was supposed to take place on Saturday, spilled into Sunday after a three-way sudden death play-off could not be completed due to bad light.
And on Sunday morning Mandiveyi and Namuinesu battled for the top prize against Chinhoyi golfers Collett John Mawire and Charles Gokora after the other pair comprising Stephen Kondowe and Kay Ncube from Cam and Motor in Kadoma fell by the wayside in the first round play off the previous evening.
The three pairs had finished tied on 46 points before going into the play-offs.
Mandiveyi was ecstatic after the victory.
“It’s so surreal and we are so happy as an all-girls team. It’s exciting, but we are still in shock. We competed against 128 players, so it was a such a big hurdle to jump, but I am happy we did,” she said.
“The playoffs were a bit nerve-wracking yesterday, but we managed to pull and today, we just knew the game was ours. We talked about it and we knew we needed to do it for the girl child, our club and our country.
“We are excited to be able to represent our country in Spain and hopefully we will play as well as we did here.”
The International Pairs World finals will run from September 29 to October 4, 2024 in Tenerife, Spain.
At least 128 players made it to the final from 1 385 who took part in over 32 qualifying events held across the country at 29 golf courses.
It was the first time that fast-rising hospitality industry player Sterling Group of Hotels sponsored the event.
Guest of honour and Tourism and Hospitality Industry deputy minister Tongai Mnangagwa wished the winners well when they compete in Spain
“To our winners, I say congratulations on an outstanding performance. May your achievement challenge others to strive for excellence,” he said.
“It is our hope that you will fly the country’s flag high in September in Tenerife, Spain, and I will be with you there.
“It is our wish as government that this tournament will contribute to the growth of the sport in the country resulting in our professional golfers at the world stage such as the forthcoming 2028 Olympic Games.”
Also gracing the event was Zimbabwe Tourism Authority acting chief executive officer William Stima and Sterling Group of Hotels chairman Wilbert Manyika and his team.
The International Pairs Zimbabwe tournament is organised by Albatross Golf Company.
