Da Silva battles to Zambia win

European Tour Member Adilson da Silva clinched a one-stroke victory at the Zambia Sugar Open after battling his way around Lusaka Golf Club in 73 shots during Sunday’s final round.

The par 73 track found its defence in the wind, but the Brazilian overcame the blustery conditions and carded rounds of 67, 72, 69, 73 to claim his 11th Sunshine Tour victory.

“It’s absolutely great to seal the win. Mentally it was a big thing to stay calm today and focus. I’ve been in this situation a couple of times, and I’m learning how to handle it,” he said.

“Today was a hard day from beginning to end, because the wind was swirling everywhere and it was difficult to trust each shot and the club you had in your hand.”

The win marks da Silva’s second Zambia Open title. The 41 year old first lifted the trophy in 2010 at Ndola Golf Club, and has since shown his affinity for the tournament.

He said: “It’s always nice to come back to Zambia, and to win twice is great. I have a good feeling about this place and to win here again is a big thing for me.

“I managed to stay focused and I hit a lot of good shots. I had a plan in my mind of how to play here, so I just kept it in play and didn’t miss many greens. It was a real battle this week, and I’m glad I could pull it off.”