adminRyan Cairns will be in the race to win his second straight victory of the season after winning the Pre-Open Classic at Royal Harare last week.
The Pre-Open Classic was the season opener. The same players who took part at Royal Harare will be at the Brooke with the exception of Shane Pringle, who was runner-up to Cairns.
It’s a tricky call at Brooke with the likes of Robson Saurombe showing some good form.
Two South Africans — Patrick Shabangu and Irvin Mazibuko — will also play today while Botswana’s Trevor Johwa may make it after failing to turn up last week.
The event is the final tournament before the prestigious Golden Pilsener Zimbabwe Open. A top four finish for players like Julius Kamalizeni, Farayi Chitengwa and Trainos Muradzikwa can ensure an automatic entry into the Open but anything else will see them going for the pre-qualifiers.
Saurombe, Tich Musemburi, Mohammad Mandhu, Kaymar Mandhu, Roger Jack, Darren Bismack-Pettit and Micky Hough are likely to feature prominently.
Mketekete and Ali Abbas Mawji share the Borrowdale Brooke course record of 62. Tendayi Gwatiringa, the Zambezi Tour Marketing and Communications Director said they expect some low scores.
“The event can work as an eye opener for local professionals, especially going towards the Zimbabwe Open, which begins mid next month,” Gwatiringa said.
“The players need game time for them to be well prepared for the Open. The event will be competitive as players still have chances to enhance their order of merit standings before the Zimbabwe Open pre-qualifiers.
“The standards at Borrowdale Brooke course are close to those at Royal and Chapman so the players will be benefiting from the event.
“The field has 46 players and 44 will be professionals while two of them, Chris Manning and Geoff Chitando, are amateurs.”
Online Reporter