adminTakudzwa Chitsiga : Sports Reporter
Professional golfer Greg Bentley will go into today’s second round of the Revitalisation of HIV and Cancer prevention pro-am golf tournament leading a huge field at Royal Harare. Bentley who has been playing regular golf in the Sunshine Tour had an impressive four-under par 68 after the opening round.The 2013 Marange Resources champion will play in the afternoon and is leading by three clear shots.
Steven Ferreira and Tongo Charamba follow on one under-par while Ryan Cairns, Mark Williams, Nicholas Masunga and Thembelani Vundhla were all on level par.
Former Falcon and Chapman club champion Clive Nguru was on one over-par as they go into today’s decisive round.
The event will see top golfer Claire Minter make history by becoming the first ever local female player to compete in a male dominated field when she takes part in the competition.
The event will see several top professionals taking to the field in the three-day event.
Minter who had hung her clubs returned to the sport this year and is doing well.
She will be up against male contenders in the country’s second biggest tournament.
The event has a 450 000 rands purse with the winner expected to walk away with 50 000 rands.
The tournament which will tee off at Royal Harare has former United States-based Nqobani Ndabambi returning home after close to eight years abroad.
Ndabambi who left the country in 2008 is among the professionals going for top honours and believes he will do well in his first ever professional tournament.
The former Arkansas-Pine Bluff College student said he is happy to be back home and is looking forward to the tournament.
“I am happy as you can see my bag has the country’s flag and that gives me motivation. I left the country way back in 2008 and returned this year.
“I turned professional last Friday after several years of college golf and it will be interesting to play against my countrymen in this big event.
“I have always been in touch with progress back home and I have noted that there are several good players who have been doing well on the Sunshine tour,” Ndabambi said.
About his chances making an immediate impact on the newly formed Zimbabwe Professional Golfers Association Tour Ndabambi said he has an equal chance and will remain focused.
“I think a have a chance to make it there. The practice rounds have been good and the course is playing well so I hope I have a chance to do well.
The players will have to battle it out with seasoned campaigners like nine time Sunshine Tour winner Marc Cayeux who has returned to actively take part in the sport since 2010.
Cayueax has undergone more than 10 operations and is still struggling with walking.
Stephen Ferreira who has been doing well of late will also fancy his chances after he finished tied on seventh in the late Sunshine Tour event the Vodacom Origins of golf a fortnight ago.
The Borrowdale Brooke-based professional said he is ready and playing at Royal Harare gives him fond memories.
“I like to play at Royal Harare and to be part of this competitive field where the course is always in perfect condition. I know there are many good players out there, but I will try my best,’ said Ferreira.
The field will have players like Charamba, Garry Thompson, Davison Elijah, Julius Kamalizeni.
Online Reporter