adminSikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO’s Phillip Tshuma and Brian Gondo will tee-off just after 7AM in the pre-Open Golf Classic that gets underway this morning and winds up tomorrow at the Royal Harare Golf Club.The classic, a precursor to Zimbabwe’s prime golf tournament, the Golden Pilsner Zimbabwe Open Championship, will see an impressive 51 professional golfers taking to the greens, all hoping their putting will lead them to victory in this Zimbabwe Open Committee $10,000 sponsored classic.
The Golden Pilsner Zimbabwe Open proper will be held at the same venue from April 10-13 with the sponsors, Delta Beverages, through their Golden Pilsner brand, pouring in R1,8 million in sponsorship package.
Only golfers with a handicap of six or better will be allowed to take part in the April mega event.
According to the Zambezi Tour marketing and communications director, Tendayi Gwatiringa, the golfers will play over 36 holes using the strokeplay format.
Stroke play refers to a round of golf in which the score is kept by adding the cumulative total of strokes taken throughout the round. In stroke play, the golfer counts each stroke taken on a hole, until the ball is in the cup. Those strokes are written down on the scorecard. At the end of the round, the strokes taken on each hole played are added together for the total strokes, which is the gross score.
“It’s all ready and naturally we are excited by the quality and quantity of the field,” said Gwatiringa.
Tshuma, of Bulawayo Golf Club and his city colleague, Gondo of Harry Allen Golf Club, are among the players that will be trying to unseat defending champion Ryan Cairns who will seek, naturally, to defend his title.
Confirmed participants also include Victoria Falls golfer Peter Banda, Ryan Lang, Ignatious Mketekete, Tongo Charamba, Irvin Mazibuko, Day Muyamba and Mark Cayeux among the impressive line-up.
Meanwhile, the Zambezi Tour will this evening hold a press briefing for the official launch of the Golden Pilsner Zimbabwe Open Golf tourney at Royal Harare Golf Club.
Online Reporter