After withdrawing from the Canadian Tour's Edmonton Open before Saturday's third round with a high fever, former Virginia golfer Lewis Chitengwa died later in the afternoon at the University of Alberta Hospital.
Chitengwa was taken to Misericordia Hospital earlier in the morning, where doctors told him he had the flu and sent him home. Chitengwa died eight hours later, only 45 minutes after he was admitted to the University of Alberta Hospital.
Meningococcus bacteria, the same bacteria that killed three young Edmonton residents last year, is being blamed for the 26-year-old's death. Dr. Gerry Predy, the Capital Health Region's medical officer of health, told the Associated Press that Chitengwa did not have a stiff neck, the classic symptom of meningococcal meningitis. Instead of spreading into Chitengwa's spinal canal or brain cavity, which would have caused his neck to stiffen, the bacteria bloomed throughout his bloodstream, a condition known as meningococcemia, Predy said.
Although its symptoms are flu-like, meningococcemia is far more dangerous than meningococcal meningitis. The overwhelming and fast-progressing infection of meningococcemia often makes it very serious and often fatal, according to Predy.
Such was the case for Chitengwa, whose death was unexpected to everyone around the world.
"I was just crushed" when I heard the news, said Virginia men's golf coach Mike Moraghan, who knew Chitengwa for eight years as he recruited and coached the golfer. "He was like a son to me."
But Chitengwa will always be in the memories of the golf community and those close to him. The Virginia Student Aid Foundation, an organization that provides all of the grant-in-aid funds for student athletes at Virginia, has established a scholarship in Chitengwa's name.
"For someone like him, there are so many things about him that you will always treasure," Moraghan said.
Before withdrawing from the Edmonton Open, Chitengwa was at 137 for 36 holes, five strokes off the lead. Chitengwa was honored at the tournament Sunday, when all the tournament's players and volunteers wore black ribbons. A brief tribute was held after the tournament's completion, and the trophy was renamed in Chitengwa's honor.
"There's an enormous outpouring of grief from around the world, from Africa and throughout Canada," Moraghan said. Chitengwa "was really admired and loved by everyone who got to spend any time with him."
In his first season on the Canadian Tour, Chitengwa had two top 10 finishes. He played on the Buy.com Tour in 2000 and finished 100th on the money list with $39,103 in 27 starts.
Chitengwa played golf for Virginia from 1995-98 and graduated from the University with a degree in African-American studies. As a Cavalier, he was ACC rookie of the year in 1995, recorded 17 top 10 finishes and received two All-American honorable mention honors. Chitengwa also placed seventh in the 1996 NCAA championship, at that point the best finish by a Virginia golfer since 1940.
Chitengwa "was an enormously talented golfer," Moraghan said. "He was fearless, intense and very focused."
Chitengwa grew up and played golf in Zimbabwe, and in 1993, he became the first black man to win the South Africa Men's Amateur Championship. At the advice of 16-time PGA title winner Nick Price, also a native of Zimbabwe, Chitengwa came to Virginia to play college golf before turning pro. The University accepted Chitengwa in the fall of 1994 after he spent one semester at Piedmont Virginia Community College.
Chitengwa "was an individual who had a fierce drive to be the best," said Virginia interim athletic director Craig Littlepage, who frequently saw Chitengwa at University Hall when the golfer would often stop by Moraghan's office. "He is someone who came to the United States and not only advanced his skills in golf, but also blossomed personally and academically"
Read More
Virginia gets second Notre Dame rematch in a dynamic ACC Tournament bout Friday
By Michael Liebermann | 9 hours agoThe Cavaliers will get a shot at redemption against a vaunted ACC foe, in a game with serious postseason seeding implications.
Mel Josephson and women’s lacrosse prepare to take center stage
By Xander Tilock | YesterdayJosephson's ability to perform throughout a game's biggest moments is crucial for the Cavaliers.
Virginia schools can pay players through NIL, but the University should proceed with caution
By Emory Huffman | 2 days agoGiven the unique academic and athletic opportunities Virginia is able to offer its athletes, it is not shocking that Virginia has been resistant to extravagant, NIL-induced changes.
