ROBINSON KUNDA, Lusaka
KAZUMBA Enterprises through its brand Chivas yesterday donated US$25,000 (about K250,000) towards the hosting of the Zambia Sugar Open Golf Championship teeing off next week in Lusaka.
Company chief executive officer Sasha Maglov handed over a cheque to Zambia Sugar Open Golf Championship organising committee chairman Roy Penney in Lusaka.
Maglov said Kazumba Enterprise, a distributor of imported beer, is pleased to be part of the prestigious tournament set for Lusaka Golf Club.
He said his company has been associated with golf for a long time and pledged continued support to the sport.
And Penney said the donation will go a long way in making this year’s edition a success.
“This US$25,000 is not small money. We are grateful to Chivas because it’s sponsorship like this that will help us have a successful tournament,” he said.
So far 47 companies have come on board to contribute towards the hosting of the event.
Part of the US$25,000 will go towards the hosting of the Chivas Pro-Am tournament set for next Tuesday.
Penney said the Zambia Sugar Open Golf Championship offers the second largest prize money on the Sunshine Tour calendar.
“Currently most of the Sunshine Tour golfers are competing in the Zimbabwe Open and from there they will come here straight. Those that do not have Sunshine Tour cards will arrive earlier because they will need to play in the pre-qualifying tournament that will be played on Monday,” Penney said.
A field of 60 golfers has so far signed up for the pre-qualifying tournament but only the top eight golfers qualify to the main Zambia Sugar Open Championship.
Over 144 golfers from 21 countries across the world have confirmed participation.
And Lusaka Golf Club captain Clive Shamwana said the US$25,000 donation from Kazumba will go a long way in helping upcoming golfers.
Shamwana said this year’s tournament will be exciting because it has attracted some of the finest golfers on the Sunshine Tour.