Airpay golf team win Corporate Master Series title

Dar es Salaam. Airpay Tanzania's golf team has been crowned the overall winners of the Corporate Masters golf tournament held at the Dar es Salaam Gymkhana golf course.

The team, formed by golfers Ayne Magombe, Abid Omari, Ally Hazam, and Julius Mwizani, recorded a total of 134 stableford points to beat seven other teams in the two-day tournament.

Airpay outshined Kenya Airways team that scored 131 stableford points, while Kago were placed third. Speaking with The Citizen, Airpay team captain Ayne Magombe said the competition was very tough, and each team targeted the best results.

Magombe attributed their victory to their seriousness about the competition. “We targeted to win the event, and that’s why we were very keen and serious. However, we faced a strong opposition from other teams,” said Magombe.

Apart from Airpay, the event also featured teams such as Kenya Airways, Automark, CRDB Bank, Ecobank, Heritage Insurance, MO (MeTL) Kago, Flashnet, CMC, Just Fit, and NMB Bank.

The event saw Maziko Kumbani emerging the overall winner of the tournament after collecting 37 stableford points. Jacues Botha topped Division A with 34 points, and Ross Ferreira won Division B with 36 points. In the men's Division C, Ali Hazam emerged the winner with 36 points.

In the women's category, Ayne Magombe won Silver Division with 36 points, followed by Rehema Athuman, who scored 35 points. In the Bronze Division, Iddah Kwanya won the category with 34 points.

The event also saw Kingsley Li winning the junior category with 36 points, while Ali Mamdouhi won the longest drive in the men's category and Magombe in the ladies' event.

Hussein Dewji won the nearest to the pin category for men, while Magombe also won for the ladies. In the longest drive on course, Jacques Botha emerged at the top for men, while Morogoro Gymkhana-based golfer Anitha Siwale won first place for the ladies.

The event organizer, Kelly Simon, said more than 100 golfers participated in this year's event, marking a significant milestone in the development of the game.

“It was one of the most competitive and engaging tournaments of the year, with participants from various backgrounds and countries,” said Simon.

Simon reiterated that the tournament stands as an excellent opportunity for businesses to connect, collaborate, and foster economic growth.

Meanwhile, Kenya Airways Regional Manager for East and Central Africa, Joseph Munyeti, said they are proud to support the event, with three winners being awarded return tickets to any destination on the African continent.

“We have awarded a business class return tickets to Maziko Kumbani, who emerged the overall winner of the competition, while Ali Mamdouhi and Ayne Magombe have been given economy class return tickets to any destination in Africa for winning the longest drive in the men's and ladies' categories. We feel proud of it,” said Munyeti.