adminSikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
The number of professional golfers participating at this year’s annual Hwange Open Golf Championship set for next weekend is expected to increase compared to previous years.
Last year’s event attracted a field of 35 professionals and 120 amateurs from around the country and the organisers expect these numbers to increase.
“We are busy preparing for the upcoming tournament in Hwange and are all excited,” said the Zimbabwe Golf Association president Mufaro Chivonivoni.
Last year’s championship was taken by Mutare-based golfer Robson Chinoi, who scored a 12 under par to win by seven shots, a record in the tournament’s 47-year history.
Trynos Muradzikwa was second with a five under par score, while veteran golfer Julius Kalimazeni was third with a one under par score.
Tafara Mpofu won the champion division while Borniface Chigorimbo and Josphat Phiri came second and third respectively.
Hwange-based Edwin Moyo won the ‘B’ division category, with Milton Magidi and John Monama settling for number two and three.
Queen of the greens Stella Feldman defended her 2016 crown and the Gweru-based golfer will be out to maintain her dominance if she takes part in this year’s event.
The three-day golfing event as in previous tournaments, will kicck off with the amateurs mixing with professionals next Friday.
Last year the tournament was played under the stroke play format.
In this format a golfer counts the strokes used to complete the play of each hole, then adds up the total number of those strokes at the end of the round for his or her score.
derick.khumalo