dyton mupawaenda
Brandon Moyo
THE stage is set for the finals of the 2024 Sterling Hotels International Pairs Golf tournament which isscheduled to take place at the prestigious Elephant Hills Golf Course in Victoria Falls tomorrow.
Golfers from all over the country will take to the greens as they battle out for a ticket to represent
Zimbabwe at the World Finals in Tenerife, Spain in October. However, the aspiring pair must first win
the national finals which are promising to be an exhilarating tournament of golf.
The Sterling Hotels International Pairs Golf tournament finals are a culmination of an exciting golfing journey that saw participation from 90 percent of golf clubs in Zimbabwe. The 2024 edition was launched in June and over 32 qualifying events were held in 29 golf courses across the country.
A total of 140 amateur golfers will take to the greens in what is the largest pair’s tournament in the country.
Sterling Group of Hotels Matabeleland general manager Fungai Mutseyekwa said as anchor sponsors, they believe that the tournament transcends sporting boundaries. They also provided transport for all the participants.
Mutseyekwa added that they are proud to have partnered International Pairs Zimbabwe as it aligns with their commitment to sportsmanship.
“The Sterling Hotels International Pairs Golf Tournament is more than just a sporting event, it is a platform for fostering camaraderie, showcasing talent and promoting Zimbabwe as a world class golfing destination. We believe that this tournament will continue to grow in stature and impact in the years to come.
“We invite you to join us in celebrating the spirit of competition and the passion for golf as we crown our national champions this Saturday,” said Mutseyekwa.
The tournament is also run in partnership with Albatros Golf Company. One of the company’s directors, Shephard Huni said the tournament is meant to celebrate all amateur golfers and give them a platform to also compete like professionals.
He added that it plays a part in boosting domestic tourism.
“It’s a special competition because it rewards the average golfer. This tournament is different, the amateur golfer gets an opportunity to feel like a pro, to tour the country and to effectively represent Zimbabwe in what is the World Cup of amateur golf.
“The objective is to promote domestic tourism. At the centre of any successful tourism campaign is increasing room occupation and golfers are like nomads, known for travelling.
“In our bid postcovid, to up and impact sport tourism in a manner that is sustainable and sensible, we realised that we can’t look out for various reasons and there was a need to promote domestic sport tourism,”said Huni.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter