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Takudzwa Chitsiga-Zimpapers Sports Hub
AFTER narrowly escaping with his life from a horror accident, which claimed the life of a fellow professional golfer on the final day of last year’s FBC Zimbabwe Open Golf, Tonderai Masunga is back for the same championships.
The country’s premier golf tourney gets underway at Royal Harare today.
Masunga was part of five players who were in the car, which was involved in an accident which claimed their colleague, Morton Kombayi, in Harare.
The Zimbabwean professional golfer is part of the field for this year’s Zimbabwe Open.
“I am well and looking forward to doing well at this year’s tournament as I have been practicing hard.
“The conditions are good and I have been playing some good golf of late.
“The course is in great condition and, as you know, golf is my life I look forward to the challenge.
“There is everything to play for and, after making the cut last year, my confidence is high and I am happy that I have all the support from friends.
“I will also have some support from Yollanda Mubaiwa who will be on the bag and I will rely on her golf expertise,” said Masunga.
The former Wingate-based professional is not the only local looking forward to the tournament.
Seasoned campaigner, Ignatius Mketekete, believes he has what it takes to make a mark at this year’s edition.
The former Roland Park player is hopeful that they will be more locals on top of the leader board.
“I think in terms of preparations we had some decent game time and that helped us a bit.
“The guys are hungry for success and I am looking forward to the tournament.
“I have been preparing for this tournament, like everyone else, and it is my hope that I will play well in the two qualifying rounds and make the cut.
“I am also grateful to the local organising committee who have managed to put up the tournament.
“The course is playing well and I look forward to a fine week.”
Zimbabwe Professional Golfers Association president, Arkil Yousuf, has rallied the local contingent to do well and says it’s high time there is a local winner.
“I still have faith that we have some great golfing talent in this country and we look forward to the week ahead.
“We will definitely have some of our players up on the leaderboard,” said Yousuf.
Zimbabwe will bank on Kieran Vincent, who has been doing well on the Sunshine and Asian Tours.
The top Zimbabwean professional golfer missed last year’s edition as he was on the European Tour.
He will today tee off alongside Herman Lobster and Jaco Ahlers at 7am.
He will be ahead of another Zimbabwean prospect Robson Chinhoi who will be on the course at 7:10 am, alongside former champion Louis Albertse and Graham van der Marwe.
Brazilian Adilson Da Silva, who spent years living in this country, is back to fight for the big one.
Also in the mix will be veteran South Africans Lyle Rowe, Neil Shietekat, Albert Venter and Jean Hugo, who are all former Zimbabwe Open champions.
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Bunjiwe Mkwananzi