Champion Jay Nathwani in action at Arusha Gymkhana Club last week.
By The Arusha News Reporter.
Arusha’s ace golfer Jay Nathwani retained the Arusha Open Golf Championship title for the second consecutive year after carding a gross score of 233 at the Arusha Gymkhana Club, last weekend. He also pocketed a cash prize of Tshs 1.2 million.
The Arusha Open is a flagship event in the calendar of the Tanzania Golf Union (TGU).
The 24-year-old brilliant Nathwani was closely followed by fellow club member and promising Pabvir Singh, who returned a gross score of 237 while Enoshi Wanyeche from Dar es Salaam secured third place with a gross 241.
“I was not sure on the second day if I will make it. However, the third and final day was great for me to retain the title,” he told The Arusha News.
In the nett category, Simon Travers of Kili Golf emerged winner with a score of 224, finishing ahead of Arusha’s Reece Shah, who posted 233.
In the ladies’ competition, Lina Francis of Arusha clinched the gross title with 179, while Teresia Ndivo triumphed in the nett section.
The seniors’ prize went to prominent Arusha businessman Ashik Nanabhai, who posted 141 nett, while the juniors’ title was claimed by Gervas Wilbroad.
Advocate Rashid Rashid secured victory in Division B, ahead of Muzzafar Yusufali, while Division C was won by Cyril Brown with George Ogutu finishing runner-up.
Andrie Brown was named Day Two winner with 69 Nett whereas Avatar Singh captured Day Three winner’s prize.
During the prize-giving ceremony, Reliance Insurance – the event’s sponsor – reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Arusha Open. Chief Executive Officer Ravi Shankar noted that the company has sponsored the tournament for the past six years and would continue to champion the promotion of golf in Tanzania.
Representing the Tanzania Golf Union (TGU), Zuberi Magere emphasised the importance of introducing golf at school level in order to nurture future talent and raise standards nationwide. He noted that golf is steadily growing in popularity and is increasingly represented in regional and international competitions.
Before the presentation of prizes, the participants observed a minute of silence in memory of Arusha Gymkhana Club Captain Niraj’s father, Manoj Vaghella, who had passed away earlier in the day.
