Chronicle Editor
Brandon Moyo, Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE professional golfer, Benjamin Follet-Smith was crowned the 2023 Maxi Bulawayo Open Golf Championship after a close contest at Bulawayo Golf Club on Saturday.
Follet-Smith saw off a challenge from fellow Zimbabwean, Nyasha Muyambo, as they finished tied on a gross total of 136 points. Muyambo ended in position two after a brilliant effort throughout the tournament.
In the three rounds played, Follet-Smith carded scores of 67, 69 and 65 in round one, two and three respectively to dethrone last year’s winner, Ignatius Mketekete, who finished in position five with a gross total of 212. Mketekete made round scores of 70, 70 and 72 as he failed to defend his title.
Last month, Follet-Smith won the Cape Town Open where he finished with a gross total of 273 points and -15 under par to take home the title by just one stroke. The Zimbabwean became only the second player in history to win two Cape Town Open titles after winning it for the first time in 2019. The other golfer to do so is Juan Carlo “JC” Ritchie, a South African who triumphed in 2020 and 2021.
In second place at the Maxi Open, Muyambo had round scores of 66, 70 and 67 and was followed by another seasoned campaigner, Robson Chinhoi who finished with a gross total of 206 points after scores of 63, 72 and 71. In position four, Brian Gondo had scores of 73, 69 and 69 while tied in fifth place with Mketekete was Malawi’s Paul Chidale who ended with scores of 71, 71 and 70 across his three rounds.
Chidale was followed by Zimbabwe’s Anyway Katembenuka with scores of 73, 73 and 67 while in position eight there was South Africa’s Irvin Mazibuko with round scores of 72, 72 and 70 whereas Sydney Wemba ended with scores of 78, 69 and 67.
Another Zimbabwean, Clive Nguru completed the top 10 leaderboard of the tournament after he finished with scores of 72, 70 and 73.
The championship which was open to all amateur and professional golfers from across the country as well as outside Zimbabwe was bankrolled by Arenel Sweets and Biscuits, through their Maxi brand. – @brandon_malvin
Online Reporter