adminTakudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
KIEREN Vincent has made history by becoming the first Zimbabwean to finish in the top 10 of the Orange Bowl International Golf Championships at Biltmore Golf Club, Florida, United States. Vincent achieved the feat at the close of play yesterday.
The last time a Zimbabwean golfer did well at the championships was in 1992 when golfing legend Lewis Muridzo won the event. Vincent finished tied on position six at the 2014 event.
The young golfer remained in the top 10 after the second round and never looked back until the last round.
Vincent finished the prestigious event in a four-way tie with the Czech Republic’s Vitek Nova’k, Ivan Ramirez of Colombia and Dominican Republic’s Juan Guerra all on one-under-par 283.
After an indifferent first round which saw him on two-over-par 73 and sitting on 30th place the St John’s College student returned with a three-under-par 68 on the second day which helped him move up to ninth.
Going in the third round Vincent maintained his composure and carded a one-over-par to remain level overall and sit on seventh and it was in the last round that he scored a one-under-par to move to one place up the board.
The 17-year-old won several junior events and is fast emulating his elder Scott, who is now making strides in the United States.
The Royal Harare-based player had outplayed Stuart Krog, who finished a distant 33rd in the same event.
Krog, who is highly rated back home struggled in the event when he carded 72, 75, 74 and 77 for a total 14-over-par 298.
Chile’s Joaquin Niemann and South Korea’s Juwon Jeong secured their places in history as champions of the 51st edition of the Junior Orange Bowl International.
Jeong took the title in a three-hole playoff with Sweden’s Linnea Strom.
Both players birdied the 18th on the first two playoff holes but Jeong’s third consecutive birdie proved decisive.
Switzerland’s Albane Valenzuela powered into third place with a closing 70, tied with overnight leader, Colombia’s Maria Hoyos, who carded 77.
Meanwhile, top Zimbabwean golfer Brendon de Jonge recorded his best ever end of year FedExCup standings points finish after concluding 2014 in ninth position. De Jonge only took part in four events last year.
The Virginia Tech product is in such a good position because of his playoff loss to Robert Streb at The McGladrey Classic at the end of November.
The burly golfer is sitting on 363 FedExCup points against Streb’s 681 going into the New Year.
De Jonge has been considered for several years as one of the better players on the PGA Tour without a victory.
In addition to his season’s best he did well in the Australian Open that came in Week 50th of the PGA Tour and this was after a 38th place finish at the Emirates Open in Week 48 and a 15th placing at the Turkish Airlines in Week 46.
The Zimbabwean is, however, now ranked 83rd in the world, having at one time reached a career high 58th.
De Jonge is likely to improve as he is still to miss the cut after four matches into the season.
Last year De Jonge ended the season ranked 98 and two places up would have cost him several tournaments while he was 63 the year before.
He has already secured his 2015-16 PGA Tour card and is expected to return to the field in February.
Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy is still world number one after he made it a career total of 60 weeks on Monday with the final golf rankings of the year.
Online Reporter