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Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
THE late Zimbabwean golfer Lewis Chitengwa will be remembered by his former university college in the United States – College Virginia Tech – when they host the inaugural Lewis Chitengwa Memorial at Birdwood Golf Course next year.
Chitengwa, who was posthumously included in the Mercedes Benz Souythern Africa Golf Hall of Fame, made it big by beating Tiger Woods at the world amateur championships back in 1993.
The tournament was announced by Virginia men’s golf coach, Bowen Sargent, who said the Cavaliers will play 10 regular-season team events which includes the inaugural Lewis Chitengwa Memorial.
“We are proud to announce the Lewis Chitengwa Memorial tournament and to honor his golfing legacy,” Sargent said. “The event in April will be the first major men’s competition on the redesigned Davis Love course at Birdwood. To have the tournament honour Lewis and all that he did for our sport will make for a very special event.”
The inaugural Lewis Chitengwa Memorial takes place April 11-12 at Birdwood Golf Course in Charlottesville to wrap-up the regular season. The event honours the former Cavalier standout who lettered at UVA from 1995 to 1998.
Chitengwa was a two-time All-American at Virginia (1995, 1996) and earned All-ACC honors in 1995 when he was named the league’s rookie of the year. He finished seventh at the 1996 NCAA Championships, at the time the best finish by a UVA performer in 50 years.
During his four-year career he won two tournaments and recorded 17 top-10 finishes.
Chitengwa turned professional in 1998 and played on the Tear Drop, Buy.com and Canadian Tours in addition to competing at the PGA’s St. Jude Memphis Classic. At the age of 26, he passed away as a result of meningitis.
At the time, he was competing in the Canadian Tour’s Edmonton Open. In 2015, he was recognised posthumously for his immense contribution to golf by being inducted into Mercedes Benz Southern Africa Golf Hall of Fame.
Online Reporter