TANZANIAN golfer Enosh Wanyeche has inched closer to clinching the 2024 Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) Trophy showdown main event's title after taking a lead in the first two days.

Wanyeche has, after the opening two days of the three-day tournament held at Dar es Salaam's Lugalo Golf Club course, returned a total of 147- leading his closest challenger, Isiaka Dunia, by two shots.

The main event's leader posted a three-over-par 75 gross on the first day and the second day saw the golfer notch 72 gross.

Second-placed Dunia posted the first-day score of a two-over-par 74 and went on to garner a three-over-par 75 on the following day.

Marius Kajuna - sitting third after the two days - had notched 150 total, recording 74 gross on the opening day and scoring 76 on the second day.

Ibrahim Mtemi was holding fourth place after the opening two days, given the golfer secured a total of 153 (77 on the first day and 76 on the second day).

Mtemi was one shot ahead of the fifth-placed Michael Massawe, as the latter notched a first-day gross of 80 and 74 gross on the second day.

Division A golfers, who play with professional golfers, are battling it out in the tournament's main event.

The professionals' category has had Nuru Mollel enjoying the lead after two days - given the golfer posted a 149 gross total.

Mollel opened his campaign modestly given the player posted 77 gross. There was an improvement in his game on the second day, which saw the player grab 72 gross.

Isaac Wanyeche and Elisante Lembris were neck and neck in the second spot, having notched a 150-gross total.

A count-back, though, placed Wanyeche above his closest challenger. Wanyeche had a first-day 77 gross and posted 73 in the second day.

The duo was two shots ahead of Frank Mwinuka (152-gross total). Mwinuka opened the showdown humbly, returning four- over-par 76 and then grabbing the same score the following day.

In the Ladies' category, Kenya's players had the upper hand on Friday, with Kanana Muthomi (78) placed first, followed by second-placed Naomi Wafula, who grabbed 79.

The duo's compatriot Joyce Wanjiru was clinging on to the third place given the golfer notched 80.

Tanzanian Neema Olomi was holding the sixth place, getting her quest for the category's silverware underway with a twelve-over-par 84.

Fellow Tanzanian golfer Madina Iddi came seventh upon the completion of the first day- grabbing 88.

Michael Luwongo, Lugalo Golf Club's chairman, said the club chose to slightly push this season's showdown back as most of the people supervising it, who are also members of the Tanzania People's Defense Force (TPDF), had been involved in the celebration of 60 years of the force's operation in the country.

Gertrude Mallya, NMB Bank's Head of Private Banking - whose bank sponsors the 2024 CDF Trophy showdown - lauded the army-owned golf outfit for developing the sport in the country.

"NMB Bank has been working closely with Lugalo Golf Club for a long time and we have kept on being the biggest stakeholders in the event for seven years," Gertrude pointed out during the opening ceremony.

The bank official stated her institution has been seeing to it that it firmly cooperates with Lugalo Golf Club to professionally organize the three-day showdown.

Gertrude appreciated the tournament co-sponsors' willingness to join forces with the bank and see to it the competition is a success.

She said she is optimistic the brand-new car would turn this season's showdown into a highly competitive affair.

"This tournament has been taking place annually and our bank has been cooperating with Lugalo Club via sponsoring the showdown...the institution has dished out over 200m/- to sponsor this important tournament," Gertrude added.

 Gertrude revealed that the bank has resorted to, this year, offering 35m/- to sponsor the CDF Trophy tournament, having acknowledged the showdown's importance to society.