adminSikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe golfing season officially gets underway tomorrow with the annual season opener, the Dugmore Trophy, teeing off at the Bulawayo Golf Club.
The two-day meet has attracted more than 70 amateur golfers from around the country, according to Matabeleland Golf Society president Mufaro Chivonivoni.
“It’s back to business for golfers this weekend and we are expecting a number of golfers to take to the greens as we seek a new champion. It’s going to be a medal stroke play format,” said Chivonivoni, who is also among the favourites.
Medal play is simply another term for “stroke play”, which is a round of golf in which the score is kept by counting strokes and totalling them.
Reigning champion Scot Vincent is no longer eligible to take part as he turned professional in 2015 and is actually on the Asian PGA Tour.
Some golfers expected to take part in the season opener include, among others, former Highlanders chairmen Themba Ndlela and Roger Muhlwa, late Vice-President John Nkomo’s son Jabulani and the Hwange quintet of Cephas Ncube, Vumi Moyo, Robson Dumani, Victor Suega and Victor Rakabopa.
A calendar released by the Zimbabwe Golf Association indicates that there will be 45 regional, international and national tournaments local golfers will take part in this year.
There will be two international tournaments, the Eisenhower Golf tourney in Mexico tentatively set for October, as well as the Junior Orange in the United States of America in December.
In addition, there will be six regional tournaments, of which four are in South Africa, the Zone Six event in Swaziland and the Africa Presidents’ Cup in Zambia.
At national level, 37 tournaments have been lined-up, with the Joshua Nkomo invitational set to mark the end of the golfing season in December.
The Zimbabwe Open Golf Championship has tentatively been set for April 4-10, while another big local tournament under the Zimbabwe Tour, Hwange Open, will see golfers taking to the greens from October 7-9.
Excelling golfers and media houses are also set to be honoured at the Zimbabwe Golf Awards on June 24.
Online Reporter