Heaven Drilling dethroned at City of Kings golf tourney

A NEW king was crowned at the 2023 City of Kings Classic Golf Tournament that was played at its ceremonial home, Bulawayo Golf Club on Saturday.

Ecobank won this year’s edition of one of the biggest golf tournaments in the city, dethroning defending champions, Heaven Drilling who had won the previous edition last year, with the two teams separated by three points.

The bankers finished with 99 points to bag their maiden City of Kings title while the dethroned champions, Heaven Drilling finished on 96 points. The Ecobank team was made up of Weston Chiwara, Tapiwa Majo, Chikandi Kandiero and Emmanuel Mahembe.

From the Heaven Drilling members, Leon Mushonga, and Lazarus Demo were part of the team that won last year.
Both teams teed off from the 10th tee and the format played was the four-ball alliance.

The Four Ball alliance is played using stable ford scoring by four-person teams. Each team member plays his or her own ball throughout and the best two scores are counted on every hole.

Resident professional at Bulawayo Golf Club, Brian Gondo was impressed with how things unfolded on Saturday. He added that this year’s edition was better than the previous one.

“All went according to plan; it was a beautiful night. It was better, the course was playing much better than last year and the winners this time had more points compared to last year,” said Gondo.

The 2023 City of Kings Golf Classic was an exhilarating display of skill, camaraderie, and sportsmanship and featured 42 teams, which was a huge number. Golf enthusiasts were treated to a good quality display of the sport as talented teams battled it out on the course.

From the 42 teams, 21 teed off from the first tee while the other 21, which had the winners, Ecobank and runners up, Heaven Drilling, teed off from the 10th tee.

The teams teeing off from the first tee were Electrons, Croco Motors, Cimas, Acol Chemicals, Auto World (Isuzu Pin Seekers), Climax, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, Knight Frank, Fawcetts, Acacia, BSI Steel, N Richards, Dendairy/Three Choirs, Colcom, Vadette Trading, Four-ex Golfer, Family Golfers, Viking, Arenel, Steel Force, and Liquor Supplies.

Starting from the 10th tee was Ecobank, KFC, Suzuki Zimbabwe, Chutyas, Toyota, CBZ Bank, Safeguard, PPC, First Capital Bank, Polyfoil, Drip Tech/Forster, Sinergy/Wholesome Beef, Kings Kraal, Satib, NMB, Strokers, ZB Bank, Lion Stores, Chivas, Bike and Hoes, and Heaven Drilling.
The annual City of Kings Golf Tournament is a highlight of Bulawayo Golf Club’s calendar. — @brandon_malvin