adminTakudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO Golf Club will stage the first amateur tournament of the 2014 season when they host this year’s edition of the Dugmore Trophy in three weeks time.
The tournament is expected to attract all the top amateurs in this country.
Last year Matthew Ncube, who had a promising start to the season, and Ben Follet-Smith, were the standout players of the tournament.
Ncube used home course advantage to win the tourney for the second time on the trot after finishing tied in first place with Follet-Smith.
Ncube was on fire at the beginning of last season but gradually faded out of the picture as competition intensified.
It was Follet-Smith, who has since relocated to the United States, who maintained consistency until the end of the season,
However, he, too, was pushed into the shade by Clive Nguru.
Nguru, who is likely to be given a tough run by his close friend Thembelani Vundhla this season, was clearly the best player last year.
He won virtually all the tournaments he took part in and went on to win the order of merit at the end of the season.
Competition is likely to be fierce this year with the arrival of exciting junior golfer Stuart Krog, Christian Mbanga and Travis Smith,
Meanwhile, Nguru (Junior) is likely to turn professional this year after dominating the local amateur ranks for close to four seasons.
The former Falcon star, who is now based at Chapman, has virtually won almost everything in the amateur ranks.
Several players like Roger Jack, Dale Howie, Nyasha Muyambo, Bernard Magaso and Munashe Madhodha, who used to give Nguru a tough run, have all turned professional.
His father Clive, who is also a professional golfer, said his son was yet to decide on embarking on the professional route.
“I think he is now ripe for the big challenge, he was considering the move this coming season,” Nguru said.
Online Reporter