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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
THIRTY-EIGHT professional golfers from Zimbabwe and South Africa have confirmed their participation in this year’s edition of the Hwange Golf Open that starts tomorrow in the coal mining town. The Open is part of the Zambezi Tour.
Among the entrants are the open’s previous winners, who include the 2015 Professional Golfer of the Year Tongo Charamba, Robson Saurombe and Bulawayo’s Brian Gondo, who finished second behind South African Musiwalo Nethunzvi in last year’s tournament.
Charamba claimed the big prize in 2011 and Gondo the following year, while Saurombe clinched it in 2013.
Hwange will be represented by its own Stephen Simukai, whose knowledge of the course could prove crucial for him.
“It’ll be played over a 54-hole stroke play with prize money of $15,000 courtesy of the sponsors Hwange Colliery Company Ltd,” said Zambezi Tour marketing and communications manager Tendayi Gwatiringa.
Stroke play, also known as medal play, involves counting the total number of strokes taken on each hole during a given round, or series of rounds.
The player who finishes the course with the least number of strokes will be the winner.
The Hwange Open will be the first tournament to be held in the Zambezi Tour since the Econet Pro Challenge won by United States-based golfer Scott Vincent on his professional debut back in June.
With defending champion Nethunzvi not taking to the greens, there should be fierce competition between the quartet of Gondo, Charamba, Saurombe and Ignatious Mketekete, with local boy Simukai, Peter Banda and Phillip Tshuma starting as dark horses. South Africa will be represented by Thabang Simon and Bele John.
Pro-Ams, in which professionals will form teams with amateurs, will use the individual stableford format over 18 holes.
Like has been the norm, foreign-based amateur players from South Africa, Zambia and Botswana are also expected to participate in the tournament.
The rules of golf as published by the Royal and Ancient shall apply together with local rules published by the tournament committee.
Ties for division winners will be decided by a play-off over holes five, six and nine. In the event of a tie, then the same holes will be played in sudden death.
All other ties will be decided by the count back system used by the organisers.
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