South African golf long dreamed of the appearance of Africa's own Tiger Woods. Sadly, there might have been one but for a tragic turn of events.

Lewis Chitengwa (Muridzo) was considered to be at least Woods' equal when their names first appeared together. Hailing from Zimbabwe the road he took was different to that of his preceding countrymen in that he did not use the Sunshine Tour as a springboard, but instead went to America on a scholarship before turning professional.

The son of Zimbabwe's first black professional, Lewis Muridzo, a 17-year-old Lewis jnr (he took his mother's surname) had already won his country's national amateur championship three times when he was included in Zimbabwe's teams to play in the World Juniors in Japan and the Eisenhower Trophy for seniors.

The link with Tiger Woods came in 1992 when he travelled to the Junior Orange Bowl International Golf Championship in Miami.

Chitengwa beat a young Eldrick 'Tiger' Woods who was already on the radar as a future star. On Woods' birthday (30 December), Chitengwa, Woods and Gilberto Morales entered the final round tied at 211. But only Chitengwa was able to shoot par to finish at two-under 282, three strokes better than Woods.

On the back of this Chitengwa was invited to play in the 1993 SA Amateur Championship at East London Golf Club. Although struggling in high winds, he qualified for the match play stages and proceeded to account for one highly rated opponent after another. In round one he beat Neil Homann, who would win the strokeplay the following year, and next Transvaal Amateur champion Callie Swart in round two. His opponent on Friday morning was East London's current club champion and himself a future pro, Ulrich van den Berg. The local man was three-up after eight holes, but lost the 9th to turn two to the good. But then Chitengwa found his groove as he reeled off four birdies and an eagle two at the 292m 16th, playing holes 10 to 17 in six-under to win 2&1.

Chitengwa, who had not escaped the indignities of the time by being refused entry to the club on the grounds that he was a caddie and then denied service in the clubhouse because he was black, had by then attracted a voluble group of supporters. In the semi-final he knocked out Rory Sabbatini to earn a 36-hole final against Hugo Lombard who had established himself as one of the country's leading amateurs. Although Lombard put up a good fight, the Zimbabwean was five-up at lunch and won the championship match 4&2.

Chitengwa was the first (and to date only) black golfer to win the SA Amateur which then had been in existence for 100 years and he was inundated with offers of golf scholarships at American colleges. He chose the University of Virginia.

He made an immediate impact, won tournaments, made various collegiate teams and a record 67 he carded was adopted as an emblem of the Virginia team. Unlike many of his age, Lewis was determined to earn his degree, and worked hard at his African-American syllabus rather than heading into the pro ranks. But once he mastered his studies, he was able, in 1999, to follow his goal of trying to emulate his hero Nick Price and become the No. 1 player in the world.

Step one was getting onto the Buy.com Tour but he struggled and failed to earn a PGA Tour card. In 2001, Chitengwa headed for Canada where he came third in that Tour's Qualifying School to gain exemption to the Canadian Tour. Heading into the Edmonton Open he was 13th on the money list and then… tragedy.

'In Zimbabwe, Lewis winning the SA Amateur was like Jesse Owens winning gold medals in front of Hitler'

Chitengwa complained of flu-like symptoms and withdrew from the tournament before the start of the third round. His condition worsened and he was rushed to Alberta Hospital where he slipped into unconsciousness and passed away. Players coming off the 18th green were visibly shaken when they were informed of the player's death.

'He had such a future in this sport. Bogeys and missed putts really don't matter at a time like this. You realise that our sport is just a game,' said Canadian Tour tournament director Ray Horne.

It was later reported that a strain of meningitis bacteria had been the cause of his death. Tests confirmed 26-year-old Lewis had meningococcemia in which the bacteria infected his bloodstream and spread rapidly.

'To blacks in Zimbabwe, Lewis winning the SA Amateur was like Jesse Owens winning gold medals in front of Hitler, or what Jackie Robinson did in baseball,' said coach Mike Moraghan. 'It came not long after Nelson Mandela was released after 27 years and South Africa was still reeling under apartheid.

'You can't imagine the grief that so many people felt,' added Moraghan. 'He was loved by so many. He always made instant friends and stayed in touch with them because he was so appreciative of all the things people had done for him. He wrote 75 Christmas cards a year to people all over the world.'

One of those cards was addressed to Nick Price, who grew up playing at Wingate Golf Club in Harare, where he caddied for Chitengwa's father and received lessons in return. 'I was devastated by his death,' Price wrote in Sports Illustrated. 'The colour of our skin was different, but it was as if I lost a little brother. I'd known Lewie since he was 17.'

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