adminTakudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
ALL is set for the Champion of Champions golf tournament, which returns to the calendar after almost 10 years, and tees off at Warren Hills this morning. The tourney, once one of the major tournaments on the local golf circuit, is back after a lengthy absence and is expected to be a high-profile tourney.
The 36-hole two-day event had been slated for July 20-21 at the same venue but has since been rescheduled for this weekend. The tournament will draw all club champions from over 40 golf clubs in the country, across all divisions, to battle for the Champion of Champions Zimbabwe titles.
It was organised by the Zimbabwe Golf Association, in association with Warren Hills Golf Club and Exec Golf Solutions. Royal Harare champion Gary Thompson was the last winner of the Champions of Champions tournament in 2004.
Several top amateurs will battle it out for to be crowned the 2013 Zimbabwe Champion of Champions.
Club captains will also take to the field. Highly-rated amateur, Clive Nguru, who won at Chapman, is one to watch as he has a lot to prove.
Nguru will face top players who also dominated at their home courses with the most notable ones being Wingate’s Tonderai Masunga and Falcon’s Biggie Chibvuri.
The Championship Division has players who usually play together at national events like Wingate’s runner-up Nicholas Masunga, Royal Harare’s Thompson and Christian Mbanga, who was the runner-up at Chapman. ZGA vice president, Boniface Chigorimbo, said they are expecting tough but exciting competition.
“As ZGA we are very excited that the Champion of Champions tournament is back on the calendar as it brings together all the clubs and champions from around the country,” said Chigorimbo.
“For the local golf fans, the tournament should be very exciting as all the different club champions from over 40 golf clubs in Zimbabwe will be aiming to outdo each other. This year’s tournament will be more special as it is being organised for a worthy cause as all the money, which will be raised, will be channelled towards the rehabilitation of Warren Hills Golf Club and also towards the ZGA development programmes.”
Having won the Royal Harare title, Thompson is expected to battle for honours again the cream from the other clubs. The event has drawn champions from clubs like Bindura, Ruwa, Borrowdale Brooke, Gweru, Norton, Country Club, Mt Pleasant, Kwekwe and the host Warren Hills.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter