Shane Pandit, the young golfer from Arusha has managed to defend his winning crown in the fifth instalment of the Diplomatic Golf tourney.
The International sporting event was played at the Kilimanjaro Golf and Wildlife Estates on the foot of Tanzania’s second highest peak, the Mount Meru.
Now aged only 14, Shane from the Arusha Gymkhana Club, is essentially a child, but the Tanzanian Tiger Woods in the making, has succeeded in shining above more than 120 golfers from 18 countries around the globe who teed off at the Kilimanjaro Golf course in Arusha, over the weekend.
Young Pandit amassed 88 stableford points and emerged the overall winner in the fifth round of the annual Diplomatic Golf. Previously also he won the fourth instalment of the tourney then aged 13 years in 2022.
The young golfer gets a full Safari Package to Tarangire National Park to be handled by Gosheni Tours, Four Tailor Made Golf Balls and a big trophy.
“I feel very good for being the second time champion but also want to congratulate other participants and winners of the Diplomatic Golf and would like to thank Roy Safaris for supporting my participation,” said Shane, adding that he always wanted to outdo himself.
For his last year victory Pandit was awarded with an Executive Golf Putter, Floating Trophy, and Stay for two nights at the Gran Melia Hotel, Bed and Breakfast for two in a room with a view of Mount Meru.
Shane Pandit was also the winner in the junior category during the third round of Diplomatic Golf Tournament held in 2021, he was then aged only 12 years.
The winner of Ladies Silver Category in Diplomatic Golf 2023 was Khadija Selemani from Lugalo Club who recorded a handicap score of 67 stableford points.
Vicky Elias with 65 stableford points also from Lugalo in Dar-es-salaam was the first runner-up in Ladies Silver. Vicky previously emerged the overall winner in Tanzania Ladies Open 2023.
For the Ladies Bronze, it was Tanvi Banal with 82 points while the runner-up, Lucy Maina managed 80 points overall.
The events staged on 36-holes Kiligolf course, involving golfers from Tanzania, East Africa, the Continent and overseas, are usually held on philanthropic missions to support vulnerable children.
The Diplomatic Golf 2023 Division A’ winner was Manraj Chadha with 75 points, while the Division B’ winner was Joseph Tango with 77 points. On the other hand, Kassim Sawa became the Division C’ winner with 68 points.
One of the supporting firms was the Kili Mediair, the air taxi services which provides medical evacuation and helicopter rescue services on Mount Kilimanjaro for climbers, porters and guides as well as providing treatments.
“This was Kili Medair’s first time support to Diplomatic Golf having been attracted by the tourney’s mission to help needy children in Tanzania,” said the Kili Medair’s Communication and Marketing officer, Peter Sarakikya.
Event coordinator Reinafrida Rwezaura from the Songea Mississippi Foundation said as usual this year’s Diplomatic Golf is held in ‘Support Children living in difficult conditions.’
“We always wanted to attract more international golfers and this has been achieved, plus the mission of raising funds for children has also been successful because this year we have managed to raise 15 million/-,” said Reinfarida.
The events staged on 36 -holes Kili-Golf course, involving more than 120 golfers from Kenya, Spain, Netherlands, Denmark, India, German, South Africa, England, USA, China, Zimbabwe, Sweden and Tanzania are involved in a race for the event’s top diadem.
The event was sponsored by among other entities, NMB Bank, CRDB Bank, Kili Mediair, Gran Melia, Goshen Safaris, the Tanzania National Parks, Serengeti Breweries, Galaxy Paints and Four Points by Sheraton Hotel.
The NMB Bank was among the event supporters and the Manager of NMB Private Banking, Hildegard Steven Mung’ong’o, said the financial institution saw the importance of promoting and supporting sports and especially Diplomatic Golf which helps children in need.
“It is part of our corporate social responsibility,” explained the NMB Manager.
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