admin
Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
FORTY-EIGHT professional golfers have so far confirmed their participation in the second edition of the Zambezi Tour Players Championship set for Wingate Golf Course on Friday and Saturday.
The list also includes two Zambians and three South Africans who will all battle to wrestle the title from the inaugural winner of the event Tongoona Charamba.
“We are moving well in our preparations and as of now 48 golfers have confirmed their participation. It’s a good field already,” said the Tour’s press officer Tendai Gwatiridza.
He added: “It will be over 36 holes from Friday to Saturday and there is $8,000 as prize money, it’s really promising to be an exciting event moreso in that it’s our first major professionals event of the year.”
In the inaugural event, seasoned golfer Charamba sunk a birdie on the first play-off hole to beat his rival Ignatius Mketekete at the Harare Country Club. They had both finished the 32 holes in a tie for top position on four-under-par 140.
They then proceeded to a sudden death play-off which was held on the par-four 18th hole.
Ignatius found the green for three and was waiting to hold on for a par but Charamba who had hit his second shot short of the green, proceeded to putt and made a birdie three.
Birdie means scoring one under par (-1).
Bulawayo’s Phillip Tshuma, Brian Gondo as well as young Victoria Falls based golfer Peter Banda are also expected to take to the greens in the capital.
Meanwhile, the Midlands Ladies Golf Union Stroke Play Championship registration exercise has started with the organisers putting March 31 as the deadline for registration.
The Championship proper will be held over two days on April 5 and 6 at Hippo Valley Golf Club in Chiredzi.
It will be played over 18 holes on both days.
“The Stroke-play Championship will be played under the Rules of Golf as published by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and the Local Rules as published by this Tournament Committee,” said the Midlands Ladies Golf Union secretary Stella Feldman.
Feldman said in the event of a tie on gross there will be a play-off over three holes; one, two and 18, and if still tied then sudden death.
In the event of a tie for the runner-up in a gross event, and all net events – there will be a count back on the cards as follows: last 18, nine, six, three and one.
Trophy Divisions:
0-12 Championship
13-18 A Division
19-26 B Division
27-36 C Division – Stable Ford
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter