adminTakudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
UNITED States-based top amateur Scott Vincent could have easily broken the Bulawayo Golf Club official course record if they did not use the preferred lie rule during the Dougmore Trophy at the weekend.
Vincent, who is back home, outclassed over 80 players who took part in the season-opening Dougmore Trophy at the course whose official record stands at 65.
More than 80 of the country’s leading amateur golfers took part in the two-day, 72-hole tournament.
Vincent fired an impressive eight-under-par 64 in the opening round.
That could have been a course record for Bulawayo Golf Club — which was founded in 1943 — and is the official home of the Dougmore Trophy.
Bulawayo Golf Club captain Todd Vanbereda said they could not ratify Vincent’s score as a course record.
“Vincent has improved so much and his 64 was easily going to be new course record, but we had the preferred lie rule in place which discredited the score.
“For the past 15 years I have been at the club, it is one of the best scores recorded.
“When I checked in the records I found out that Vincent last played in the Dougmore Trophy in 2010 and he won the event on two-under-par, but this year he improved by a further 19 strokes,” said Vanbereda.
He said the players were improving.
“The course remains challenging as it was in good condition and it is the players who have upped their game.
“Vincent has improved so much since he relocated to United States and I can foresee a bright future ahead,” said Vanbereda.
Playing off a two-handicap, Vincent opened with 64, 66, 69 and 70 for a total 267.
Justin Kirsten, who was the runner-up, also managed to improve his scores as he finished on five-under-par 286.
The Dougmore Trophy is one of the 19 Zimbabwe Golf Association order of merit events.
Online Reporter