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Alfazema

The last remaining winning record in the country\'s major golf tournaments tumbled at Royal Harare last Sunday (11 July) when Aulia Alfazema pipped Claire \"Mama G\" Minter to the Harare Province Ladies Strokeplay Championship. On a dramatic winter morning, it was Alfazema, the current Zimbabwe Ladies Golf Union (ZLGU) vice-president who shone, taking advantage of a rather subdued showing by Minter to claw back a four-stroke deficit and post an unlikely one-shot victory.

How different things had looked after the opening round on Saturday! Then, Minter got off to flier once again, posting a first round 79 that gave her a four-stroke lead over second placed Alfazema who shot 83. It seemed it was going to be yet another easy triumph for Minter who has dominated the local ladies circuit for such a long time that it has looked more like the \"Mama G\" roadshow. But Minter, who had won all four major ladies tournaments played prior to this tournament, had a poor final round, managing only an 87 while Alfazema improved with an 82. That gave Alfazema her first major victory of the year on a 165 total with Minter settling for second place on 166.

Upcoming lady golfer, Pam Preston who shot rounds of 84 and 83 was placed third on 167 with junior golfer Tatenda Mabikacheche taking fourth on 172. Mabikacheche had rounds of 85 and 87 and was the best placed junior in the tournament. Another junior lady golfer, Batsirayi Tilowakuti shared fifth position with S.J. Bennett on 175. The former had scores of 90 and 85 with the latter posting rounds of 91 and 84.

Incidentally, Bennett was also the A Division winner with her 175 total, finishing some nine-strokes clear of second-placed Thembi Moyo and Linda Makina who both finished on 184. Moyo, the ZLGU president had rounds of 93 and 91 while Makina had scores of 95 and 89.J. Thorne (91, 94) was fourth on 185 with Loveness Chandavengerwa finishing fifth on 186. Chandavengerwa had rounds of 95 and 91.

In the B Division, Molline Kamalizeni emerged victor in a tight contest, edging the duo of Wadzanai Kwaririma and Z. Hinze by just a shot. Kamalizeni led form the first round in which she posted a 95 before a second round 98 secured victory on a 193 total. Hinze was placed second on a 194 score after rounds of 99 and 95, counting out Kwaririma who also had a 194 total. Kwaririma, who posted rounds of 96 and 98 was eventually placed third with Kuksy Lalla taking fourth position on 197. Lalla had rounds of 99 and 98. S. Malloch-Brown was fifth on 198 after rounds of 98 and 100.

Meanwhile in the C Division which featured a very small field, J. Munhemba was the winner on 223 after posting scores of 107 and 116. J. Salimo was the runner-up on 226 following rounds of 119 and 107 with T. Gatawa taking third position on 229. Gatawa had rounds of 114 and 115.

The Harare Province Ladies Strokeplay Championship was the fifth major tournament of the 2010 ZLGU season, coming hot on the heels of the Manicaland Ladies Strokeplay, the ZLGU Open Strokeplay, the MLGA Ladies Strokeplay and the Mash East/Central Ladies Strokeplay tournaments that were held in earlier months. The Harare Province Ladies Strokeplay Championship was sponsored by Aquarius Shipping International and attracted a field of 64 players from all over the country.

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