Nkya: The Lina Pro-Am Tour event to promote golf

Dar es Salaam. A veteran golfer in the country, Saidi Nkya, has said, apart from honouring the late Lina Said Nkya, they have decided to establish the Lina Nkya Pro-Am Tour purposely to sharpen the skills of both professional and amateur golfers in the country so they can attain the highest standard of playing the game.

Nkya made the comment during the launch of the first Golf Tour event in the country at the Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club.

He said Tanzania has professional golfers, but most of them have been struggling to record best results when competing against various professional golfers from outside the country.

“We normally compete against Kenyan golfers who occasionally emerge victorious. We believe that there are professional golfers who can make the country proud, but not for now.

“The Lina Pro- Am Tour is dedicated to Tanzanian golfers only and will first be held for two editions before inviting golfers from outside the country,” said Nkya.

The first event will begin from February 29 to March 3 at the TPC Club golf course in Kilimanjaro.

The second event, as per a statement, is scheduled to tee off on April 11 to 14 at the Sea Cliff Golf Resort and Spa in Zanzibar, while the third event is planned for the Arusha Gymkhana Club from July 11 to 14.

The fourth event will be held at the Moshi Club golf course from September 26 to 29, and the grand finale is scheduled to take place at the Dar es Salaam golf course from November 1 to 17.

The event features five tournaments across different courses, uniting the nation's professionals with 12 elite golfers boasting handicaps 5 and below, creating a Pro-Am spectacle.

The top three professionals and one elite golfer will earn a coveted chance to feature in a Dubai tournament.

The late Lina was among the first lady golfers in Tanzania to compete in a sport that was once dominated by non-Tanzanian male golfers.