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Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter
GOLFER Michael Hollick kicked off his birthday week in style after he beat a strong field to lift the 2024 FBC Zimbabwe Open Golf championship for the first time at Royal Harare yesterday afternoon.
Hollick, who turns 37 on Wednesday, needed to summon all his golf prowess yesterday to finish with a 20-under-par 268 after an epic final day against South African compatriot Darren Fichardt, who pushed him to the limit with his 18-under-par 270.
Zimbabwe’s top professional Scott Vincent was in third place with a respectable 14-under after a feisty last two days on the greens. His brother Kieran Vincent also put up a commendable show, tied for fourth place with Swedish golfer Frederick From.
Another Zimbabwean Ben Follett-Smith was sixth on 11-under while highly rated Zimbabwean golf prodigy Matthew Bramford, was the top amateur after finishing on 38th place with a course par score 288.
But as has become the norm, it was the South African golfers who dominated the event. Hollick, who won his second Sunshine Tour title with the FBC Zimbabwe Open success, was excited to be on the winning podium, six years after he last participated in the Harare event.
“It’s always amazing to be here. I haven’t been here since Covid-19, so coming back was nice and the golf course hasn’t changed in the last five years.
“It’s always brilliant from the first time I played here in 2011. So I am very pleased,” he said.
The 36-year-old had to hold off competition from compatriot Fichardt with six birdies for his final round 66. Hollick had a one-stroke lead going into the final round after he had followed up his first two rounds of 66 and 67 with an impressive 68 in the third round on Saturday, leaving him on 15-under-par.
He had a bogey on the 11th hole but the script still went his way yesterday with a crucial birdie in the 17th as Fichardt was dented by two bogeys on the second and 11th holes, despite also carding six birdies on the final day.
“It was great,” said Hollick.
“I have been lucky enough to play a lot of tournament golf with Darren over the years and he is one hell of a player. So I knew he wasn’t going to give it to me today and I had to go out and win it. Fortunately, I had the goods and I produced it in the end.
“And, the biggest thanks go to the fans here; to the crowd that was out, here thank you so much. You really make the most incredible environment for us to play.
“I also want to thank Royal Harare Golf Club for hosting us. The golf course was absolutely amazing and I can’t thank you guys enough.
“I also want to thanks Darren Fichardt, it was a hell of a battle today. We had a good go out there and well-played,” said Hollick.
For the umpteenth time, the Zimbabwe Open Golf title evaded the locals who were left waiting for their breakthrough 24 years since Mark McNulty became the last Zimbabwean to win it in 2000.
Scott Vincent reignited Zimbabwe’s hopes for the better part of yesterday but his five-under 67 was not enough to give the top two South Africans a jolt as he settled in third place.
His brother Kieran had started the day as the best placed Zimbabwean on 11-under par but he failed to continue with the momentum from the previous day. Bogies on the eighth, 10th and 13th holes came at a huge cost for the younger Vincent.
Scott Vincent said the course was tough and will try again next year to challenge for the Zimbabwe Open.
“The Sunshine Tour is always strong,” he said.
“They always play really tough and obviously it’s good to have them come here and play and it was fun to play JC Ritchie. He is a fantastic player, he played on the world stage.
“So all in all it’s a strong field and it’s good to be here. I would love to come back and play every year. We have just to see the scheduling and how it all works out,” said Scott Vincent.
Sunshine Tour tournament director Gary Todd was thrilled by the successful hosting of the R2.5 million FBC Holdings-sponsored event.
“On behalf of the Sunshine Tour I can’t thank FBC Holdings enough, it was such a fantastic event.
“It would be rude of me not to mention the Royal Harare Golf Club course staff who have preserved the facility this week in the most outstanding condition.
“To the people of Harare, who have come out and supported us during this magical week, I can’t believe it has gone so quickly and we won’t see you for another year, it’s too long,” said Todd.
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