Geoffrey Mkoko and Ruth Mvula were the champions in both men and women category where over 80 golfers turned up for the fray despite the hot sunny weather in the lakeshore biggest trading centre of Dwangwa.

Mkoko went away with a Nike vapour speed drive, apple Ipad Air, a travelling bag and a trophy after hammering 39 points. He consequently declared himself a professional golfer having been the first winner of the inaugural Airtel Golf Open tournament at the club.

Godfrey Chisale, a young upcoming golfer from Mzuzu Golf Club came second with 36 points after being given two stroke penalties for coming late.

He walked away with a Nike golf bag, a travelling bag, Galaxy min and a trophy.

Kachere golfer, Yohane Mzuza, who tied with Chisale on points, came third after getting two blank shots. He walked home with a Nike patter, a travelling bag and a trophy during the tournament.

In the women’s category, Ruth Mvula walked away with Nike golf stand bag, apple Ipad Air, a travelling bag and a trophy having amassed 35 points and outclassed 13 other women golfers.

Mvula’s compatriot Lusubilo Chakaniza emerged second as she got 32 points and walked away with a travelling bag, Galaxy min and a trophy.

Another golfer from Kachere Golf Club Brenda Gunde emerged third and pocketed home Broadband wireless router, a travelling bag and K1000 airtime having amassed an aggregate of 31 points.

Mkoko said as much as he didn’t expect to win, the aim was to make sure that the championship remain at Kasasa Golf Club.

"I feel good that the winner is from Kasasa. We were doing weekly practices and tried to polish each other’s skills every training session. I also focused on having straight shots as the weather also was good for me.

“Overall, I wish to salute Airtel for the tournament being the first time to organize and again the first winner,” said Mkoko.

The winner of the women side Mvula said she knows all angles of winning when the tournament is being played at Kasasa Golf Course.

“I’m used to this golf course and mostly when I’m playing on the green. If I’m able to win in other golf courses which are brown, then I believe that I’m an expert.

“But again when it comes to such [hot] weather, I always put my head down and that is what I did today,” explained Mvula.

Airtel Malawi’s Director of Enterprise Business, Rachael Mijiga, said the tournament was one of the series the company has been holding in different golf clubs in showcasing their new products.

Mijiga said, “as Airtel this tournament is a way of interacting with our customers across the country and informing them about latest developments. We have upgraded our network system and as I’m talking now we are sitting on over 500 3G enabled towers across the country.”

Mijiga also emphasized the commitment the company has in supporting the sport saying they have organized a two-day awaited individual stable ford format golf event to be played at Lilongwe Golf Club from 24th to 25th October this year.

Meanwhile, Airtel donated a K200, 000 cheque to the golf club for the maintenance of the golf course.