Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
KELVIN MUCHENJE walked off the final green at Norton Golf Club with a long breath and a weight finally lifted from his shoulders. He had battled through three tense rounds, matched blow for blow by Munesu Chimhini, before dragging the Platinum Classic into a playoff where he held his nerve to close the season with a win.
Both players finished tied on eight-over-par 224 after 54 holes, forcing a playoff. Muchenje edged it to claim his second Zimbabwe Golf Association title of the year.
The victory came five months after he lifted the Champion of Champions trophy at Roland Park and after a season of near misses that kept him stuck inside the top five without a breakthrough. Speaking to Golf Africa, he said the result felt like easing pressure he had carried for months.
His experience from the Mzilikazi Classic playoff in September also gave him a steady hand at the decisive moment.
“It’s been a dry spell without winning after Champion of Champions. I just feel good — it’s a sigh of relief that I have made it at last. It’s like putting a signature on an essay that I have been working on for a very long time.
Going into the playoff, I just told myself that I will win because I have been in such a situation before. I played against Michael Wallace at the Mzilikazi Classic and I just corrected the mistakes that I made in Bulawayo. So, there were no nerves — I am just glad that I finished the season with a win.
Gratitude also goes to ZPCS; they make me play golf and I am thankful to them,” said Muchenje.
He opened the season finale with a 74 before carding a 75 in the afternoon round on Saturday.
That left him on five-over-par 149 and two shots behind overnight leaders Toby Elis and Darlington Chikanyambidze, who were on three-over-par 147. A closing 75 on Sunday pulled him level with Chimhini and pushed the tournament into extra holes, where he closed it out.
Chimhini had posted rounds of 77, 75 and 72. Blessing Gondo, Elis and Chikanyambidze shared third place on 10-over-par 226.
