adminTakudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
MARK Cayuex will return to the field at the Tour Championships which tees off at Wingate Golf and Country Club with a field of 47 professionals this morning. The tournament has attracted the country’s top professionals who will battle for the top prize and the field will see the emotional return of Cayeux.
Cayeux was sidelined by injuries he suffered in a horrific car crash in 2010 after he had finished third at the Zimbabwe Open. The player, who is recovering, will take part in the first tournament of the season.
Cayeux will play in the last ball on the tenth tee alongside Dean Shoultz and Laiford Yadyo.
Tongo Charamba is the defending champion after winning the championships at Country Club last year by beating Ignatius Mketekete in a play-off.
Mketekete has promised to give it his best shot in the two-day event and believes it provides good preparations for the Zimbabwe Open set for next month.
“I am looking forward to the event and I have been practicing during the past few days and I think I will do well this weekend,” said Mketekete.
“I am well prepared for the event and I have been working hard in the build-up to the competition but my focus remains on the Zimbabwe Open.
“Most players will take the opportunity to prepare for the premier event.
“It will be tough as everyone is looking forward to doing well in the event and carrying the good form into the big one.”
Mketekete believes playing at Wingate will be a huge challenge.
“The course is shot but has several challenges in the form of trees. There are few hazards like sand bunkers but trees will force you to keep it in the fairway so safe play will be the game,” said Mketekete.
Much of the focus will fall on the battle between defending champion Charamba, Robson Saurombe, Greg Bentley, Shane Pringle, Lyford Yadyo, Titch Musemburi, Peter Banda, Brian Gondo, Roger Jack and Phillip Tshuma.
There will also be a foreign flavour in the form of South Africans Irvin Mazibuko, Mark Williams and Thabang Simon while Zambia will have Patrick Mwendapole and Modalitso Muthinya.
Mazibuko and Mwendapole are not new to the Zambezi Tour after taking part in several events last season.
Sunshine Tour campaigners and order of merit leader Ryan Cairns will be expected to continue with his fine form and we be joined by Micky Hough and Dean Schoultz.
Cairns dominated the Zambezi Tour last season and remains on top of the order of merit despite taking part in few events last season.
Online Reporter