All Set for August Monthly Mug
NTHAKO MAJORO
MASERU – The excitement is building at the Maseru Golf Course as over 20 golfers gear up to compete for the coveted August Monthly Mug title this Sunday. According to Rasheed Osmen, the newly appointed captain of the Maseru Golf Club, 23 golfers have already thrown their hats in the ring for this month’s tournament, and the anticipation is palpable.
“We currently have 23 members signed up,” Osmen shared in an interview with Public Eye on Tuesday. Among them are six female players, a promising sign of the growing diversity in the sport. With registration closing tomorrow (Saturday) morning and the preliminary draw set to be released in the afternoon, Osmen remains optimistic that the number of competitors will rise as the deadline approaches.
“Even with just 10 participants, the competition would still go on, but we have never seen numbers that low. The lowest we have had is in the low 20s,” he noted, hinting at the club’s vibrant golfing community.
Last month, the July Monthly Mug saw fierce competition from 44 golfers. Osmen himself finished in eighth position, with a respectable net score of 73. Yet, it was the female golfers who stole the show, with Anna Moloi clinching the trophy with an impressive net score of 65.
“Golf is an unpredictable game,” Osmen reflected. “The ladies almost always perform exceptionally well, and the weather also plays a significant role. Wind and cold can hamper performance, while good weather can boost it. But in the end, it all comes down to individual preparation.” Osmen noted that while practice is crucial, the Monthly Mug is notorious for its challenging format.
“The Monthly Mug is always met with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. It is a very unforgiving format called Medal Stroke play, where there are no concessions. If a golfer takes more than five shots on a par three, they have to keep playing until the ball is in the hole,” he explained.
Despite the tough nature of the competition, the Monthly Mug remains a highly supported event, with the winner being crowned the champion golfer of the month.
“That is why there is so much anticipation and anxiety,” Osmen added. As the Maseru Golf Club prepares for another thrilling Monthly Mug Tournament, the stage is set for a day of high stakes, fierce competition, and perhaps a few surprises along the way.
