Online Reporter
Takudzwa Chitsiga-Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWEAN professional golfer Benjamin Follet-Smith finally remembered how to win when he captured the Cell C challenge in honour of Gary Player at Killarney Country Club in South Africa yesterday.
Barely a month after getting his DP World Tour card formerly the European Tour, Follet-Smith was outstanding as he carded a 15-under-par to add another Sunshine Tour title.
Starting the day tied on position two with South African Haydn Porteous, Follet-Smith managed to take control of the fourth round on hole number 12 when he took a two-shot lead.
Follett-Smith, a former Mississippi State University student and two-time Challenge Tour winner, showed exceptional composure throughout the demanding week, with rounds of 67, 65, 67 and 66 for a total of 265 to beat Porteous by a single shot.
“The first nine went my way. As golf is, when it’s going your way it seems easy. I did exactly what I wanted to do for every shot on that front nine. I made a good putt for birdie on the 10th so I thought it was going to continue, but the back nine was tough towards the end,” he said.
“I made a few silly errors coming in. Hitting it right of 17 was a rookie error for sure and finishing bogey-bogey wasn’t what I wanted to do. Luckily it was good enough so I’m very pleased,” said Follett-Smith.
This is his first victory since 2024 and follows what he says was a somewhat frustrating 2025.
“It’s just been hard work and practice. I didn’t get too much out of my game last year. I was a bit stuck playing the HotelPlanner Tour and DP World Tour, but I kept coming back home to the Sunshine Tour as a great platform to play. The events here are awesome and world-class in terms of how they’re run. It’s awesome to be in the winner’s circle again and to guarantee my playing rights here,” he told the Sunshine Tour.
Also making an impact among the locals were Robson Chinhoi who also made a top ten finish after closing the four rounds on seven under par 273 and tied on position eight.
Chinhoi was in a four-way tie with South Africans Martin Rohwer, Tryan Snyders and Herman Lobser. The duo of David Amm and Stuart Krog finished tied on position 50 after carding three-over-par and managed to make the cut.
Nyasha Muyambo and Tafadzwa Nyamukondiwa completed the local contingent who took to the field but unfortunately missed the cut.
