Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
AMATEUR golfer Nerudo Mregi has captivated the international stage with a heart-warming Cinderella story that could melt even the coldest hearts. Virtually unknown in local golf circles until last Sunday, he seized national attention by qualifying for the ongoing 2025 FBC Zimbabwe Open, currently underway at Royal Harare Golf Club.
Mregi secured his spot via the Pre-Qualifier, carding a one-over 73 to become one of just 11 amateurs in the country’s most prestigious golf event, which also opens the 2025/26 Sunshine Tour season.
His unique journey began not on a golf course, but on a football pitch at Tongogara High School in Shurugwi, where an unexpected visit by educators from the Zimbabwe Golf Association (ZGA) and the R&A (golf’s global governing body outside the Americas) led him to discover his talent.
“We didn’t know anything about it (golf). They took us out to the football field, handed us a club, and let us try to hit a ball. I raised my hand and gave it a go. Somehow, I managed to send the ball across the field. That small moment stuck with me.
“After that, I would go and see the woodwork teacher — I think his name was Mr Muvirimi — every afternoon. He had access to a few clubs, and I would ask if I could borrow them. We didn’t have golf balls, so I just hit cones or anything I could find. There was no coaching, no drills, no equipment — just a deep curiosity and a growing love for this strange, new sport.
“Looking back, I realise how important those early days were. They were simple, even rough, but they planted something in me. I didn’t have much, but I had a feeling that this game could be something meaningful in my life,” said Mregi.
Making his national tournament debut and playing Royal Harare for the first time at the Zimbabwe Open, Mregi already considers this a victory in itself. Based in South Africa, he now dreams of a future return to play in Zimbabwe, feeling like a winner regardless of the outcome.
“I am having a lot of fun. It’s not often that a guy who has a full-time job gets to tee up with professionals who are doing this for a living, and if I get to learn from that, I might be able to come back.
“Whatever the outcome, I have won already. Whatever the outcome, God knows what this story needs to be. I love my country. My biggest memory when I came back was walking down the fairway on the back nine — there’s just that one hole that feels like it’s away from everything.
“You can hear the birds, you hear things that remind you of what you used to hear when leaving school and walking home.
“There are a lot of memories, and I definitely want to come back. The story keeps getting more exciting. I want to play this course many more times. Being close and hearing familiar voices helps sometimes,” said Mregi.
Despite his qualifying high, Mregi endured a difficult opening round at Royal Harare, carding an 11-over-par 73. The 2025 FBC Zimbabwe Open, featuring a robust field of 156 golfers (including 11 amateurs), concludes on Sunday, with the Zimbabwean professional challenge spearheaded by Nyasha Muyambo, Ryan Cairns, Visitor Mapwanya, and Robson Chinhoi.
