The popular Stanbic Bank Independence Trophy Golf Championship took place this past weekend. The third consecutive championship event sponsored by Stanbic Bank took place at Gaborone Golf Club on the 20th and 21st of September 2014. Emerging as the key victors were Geoffrey Nchini and Maria Machailo-Ellis for men and women respectively.

Stanbic Bank sponsored the event to the tune of P80, 000.00. This includes P40, 000.00 worth of prizes as well as P40, 000.00 worth of sporting apparel and the trophy, dubbed the Stanbic Bank Independence Trophy. A total of 159 golfers had been drawn to play on Saturday, where there was a cut after the first round to reduce the golfers to 90 players for the Sunday round. Play was made tough by the incidence of gusting winds on both days.

 

“The Stanbic Bank Independence Trophy has become a calendar event that all golfers can look forward to, and we are grateful to see that players continue to turn out in great numbers. This year’s championship provided the perfect platform to enjoy a challenging game of golf whilst at once networking with current and potential customers of Stanbic Bank, as well as our key stakeholders,” said Stanbic Bank Botswana Head of Business Banking, Mr. Louis Van Ravesteyn.

 

The golf day was hosted by Stanbic Bank in partnershp with Botswana Golf Union (BGU). The golfing event has established itself, over the years as a highlight in the golfing calendar, and this year proved to be no exception. Prominent golfers in attendance included LeRoy Pearman, David Masole, and the past champion Stanley Mukhwene. Golfers from across Botswana were represented, inclusive of 9 clubs from Gaborone, Phakalane, Jwaneng, Selibe-Phikwe, Francistown, Orapa, Kasane, Lobatse and Sowa, and players from neighbouring countries of South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

 

“The Independence Trophy boasts a legacy of 48 years (which is as long as Botswana has been independent), and we are fortunate to have become well woven into the fabric of Botswana’s golfing culture. We pride ourselves upon continuing to offer what is in fact one of only two national golfing tournaments that offers entry for both men and women, and that’s something to be celebrated. The Stanbic  Bank Independence Trophy is the only tournament with a mid-way cut to reduce the numbers of golfers who can play on Sunday and finish in time to allow for prize-giving to happen early enough for the players to then resume their travel back home. This adds a thrill to the competition that leaves golfers talking about the event for some time after it is over.

Indeed, it has proven to be a fantastic third edition of the Stanbic Bank Independence Trophy Golf Championship, and we are grateful to Stanbic Bank for their support and indeed to all our players for their enthusiasm,” concluded Mr. Mpho Kelosiwang, Secretary General of the Botswana Golfers’ Union.