adminAfricans’ strong hand in the Golden Pilsner Zimbabwe Open which tees off at the lush Royal Harare greens.
The Golden Pilsner Zimbabwe Open is the only Sunshine Tour stop-over in Zimbabwe and remains the most prestigious golfing event on the local calendar.
At some occasions, Cairns leave his golf clubs and takes the microphone as he serenades people as part of the contemporary band Jaded Aces but this week, the pro golfer has been cast as the leading light for the Zimbabwean golfers.
Cairns is going into the Zimbabwe Open in top form after his recent wins at the Pre-Open Classic and the Chairman’s Cup, which are part of the local tour.
He knows the greens and the fairways well at Royal Harare but has a large field of South Africans and the little pressure of playing before an appreciative home crowd that could stand in his way and the 1,65 million Rand purse money at stake.
While Cairns leads the Zim Order of Merit, Zimbabwe Professional Golfers Association president, Tongoona Charamba, is also in the mix and will be hoping to make the cut after the opening two rounds.
A total of 156 golfers have entered for the Golden Pilsner Zimbabwean Open with more than 105 players coming from South Africa while hosts Zimbabwe have nearly 30 including the unheralded Sean Crocker who is just 15 years old.
The promising amateur golfer is based at Spanish Hills Golf Club in California, United States, and has been touted as the next big think in Zimbabwean golf.
Crocker is coming to the Zimbabwe Open on a special invitation while seasoned PGA campaigner Brendon De Jonge is not among the entries.
Even the other rising star Bruce Macdonald will not be part of the main action at Royal Harare while Zimbabwean golf fans should spare a thought for Marc Cayeux who remains sidelined after being involved in road accident more than two years ago.
Veteran Mark McNulty, who won thios event in 2000, was the last Zimbabwean golfer to engrave his name on the cup while Darren Fichardt retains on a special entry after winning the 2001 title before the event went off the radar for nine years.
Defending champion Chris Swanepoel is also on the card along former winners Jean Hugo, Thenis Spangerberg and Jbe Kruger.
While the Zim Open trophy could remain elusive for many golfers in the field, there is a carrot in the form of a Jaguar XF for any one who sinks an eagle at the par 4 hole 18.
Last year there a Range Rover Evqoue that found no winners for the same challenge.
Online Reporter