President’s Cup tees off in Byo

The President’s Cup, an annual golf tournament in which the Zimbabwe Professional Golfers Association has partnered with NetOne, will tee off at Bulawayo Country Club this morning.

The president of the professional golfers’ body, Akil Yousuf, confirmed yesterday that all is set for the event, whose tee is set for this morning, with a field of some of the best local professionals.

Yousuf said the tournament is being held to honour President Mnangagwa. He says the competition will stay on the calendar and will be held every week preceding the Independence Celebrations on April 18 annually.

“The President’s Cup is held in honour of the President, His Excellency Mnangagwa. It is in its second year but first with professional golfers involved.

“It has been a decent start to the year. This will be our third professional golf tournament of the year, which is a precursor to the Zimbabwe Open Golf tournament in three weeks.

“We have 49 professional golfers to take part. Robson Chinhoyi, Visitor Mapwanya and Nyasha Muyambo are among some of the top male players taking part in the men’s category, while in the women’s category, there is Yolanda Mubaiwa and Claire Minter,” said Yousuf.

Yousuf praised NetOne for being golf’s all-weather friend and said the US$35,000 ploughed into the event had elevated its status befitting the honour bestowed on President Mnangagwa.

“NetOne has always been a long standing partner of the professional golfers and amateurs in the country. They have always supported local golf,” said Yousuf.

Minter declared herself ready for the challenge, disclosing that she has had good practice playing in the Sunshine Tour in South Africa.

She described the greens and fairways at Bulawayo Country Club as being in good condition.
Robson Chinhoyi, who leads the order of merit, is among those participating in this event, the third tournament this year for professional golfers with a guaranteed kit of US$35 000.

The figure has excited Yousuf, who said they are looking forward to a great tournament, which will end on Thursday and then on Friday, it will be a pro-am event also featuring amateurs.

NetOne’s Ernest Magadzire said that all the packages for this year’s tournament were in excess of US$50 000 and that they were happy to be the premier partners of the event.

Eric Makarimayi, the host club captain, said they had put a lot into the event in terms of preparation to ensure the greens and fairways were at their best after a season of good rains.

Ryan Cairns, a former winner in the Canadian, Australian and Sunshine Tours in South Africa, is among some of the golfers taking part and said he is looking forward to the tournament.

He was also impressed with the condition of the facility after having a feel of it late afternoon yesterday.