adminLovemore Dube Senior Sports Editor
ROBSON Saurombe stole the show with an 18th hole play-off win over determined fellow Zimbabwean professional golfer Mohammed Mandhu in the final round of the Golden Pilsener sponsored Harare Open at Chapman Golf Club on Saturday.It was a fantastic ending of the event when both golfers finished on two under par resulting in the sudden death play-off.
But the man of the day was Saurombe who had a birdie to wrap it up while Mandhu three-putted on the last hole and settled for a par score.
Bulawayo professional golfer Brian Gondo had a spectacular collapse when he shot 83 to finish 27th.
He had gone into the final day of the competition in the lead by one shot, but his disastrous final round performance is something that he will want to quickly forget in a season marred by injuries.
The Harare Open is part of the Zambezi Tour and began on Thursday with a good field of both professionals and amateurs all vying to score good for their respective order of merit standings.
The turn out was good even among the foreigners who are eyeing the more lucrative Sunshine Tour – the biggest in Africa and headquartered in South Africa.
Saurombe had fired warning shots about his intent with a score of 66 in the opening round on Thursday. It was to be the tournament’s best with the other worthwhile score that of overnight leader going into the final day Gondo’s 68.
Saurombe carded 66 on Thursday, a sloppy 78 on Friday before a score of 70 secured him a two under par 214 which earned him $3,600.
Mandhu had 72 on the first day and scores of 71 on the last two days to pocket a $2,600 cheque on 214.
Nickson Masunga, third, shot a one under par 215 made from a round of 71 on Thursday and similar scores of 72 in the last two days for a good pay day of $2,100 and an improvement on the Zimbabwe Order of Merit due to be announced today.
South African John Belle was the best performing foreigner on fourth position earning himself $1,500 despite his game not improving by each passing day. With a gross score of 71 in round one, 72 on the second and 73 on the last for a par 216, it was still good enough for him to score well on the tour and improve standings.
Tied on fourth spot was Thanda Mavundla of South Africa, 71, 74, 71 (216) who also earned $1,500 for his efforts.
Zimbabwean Ryan Lang was sixth on 217 etched from scores of 71, 74 and 72 for his $1,250.
derick.khumalo