Online Reporter
Takudzwa Chitsiga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Sunshine Tour yesterday took temporary control of Royal Harare Golf Club ahead of this year’s edition of the FBC Zimbabwe Open golf tournament, which tees off on Thursday.
Sunshine Tour director Garry Todd is now in charge, hosting the country’s premier golf event which will run from Thursday through to Sunday.
“We are happy as the Sunshine Tour to be back here in Zimbabwe and we are grateful to Royal Harare management and staff for giving us the course.
‘‘We promise that we will make sure we will try to leave it in the good condition as we saw it,” said Todd.
The club was founded 1898 by a group of golf lovers.
The course was established on the current location in 1901.
The original course, with its ‘‘sand greens,’’ was very differently laid out to the current design.
Expectations are high that this year’s Zimbabwe Open could produce a home winner.
The country has waited for years to see one of its own lift the biggest prize on the local gold circuit.
South African golfers have dominated the Zimbabwe Open, turning it into an extension of their local tournaments.
There was a time when the local golfers — Nick Price, Tony Johnstone and Mark McNulty — were regular winners of the Zimbabwe Open.
That was during a golden age of golf for the country.
The emergence of Scott Vincent has triggered expectations that a local golfer could win the Zimbabwe Open. Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe golf team, which left the country for Eswatini for the Region Five championships, is confident of doing well.
The Region Five tournament will tee off this morning at Ezulwini Golf and Country Club.
Team captain, Kelvin Muchenje, said he is happy to be representing the country and they are looking forward to do well.
“It is an honour to be part of the delegation and I am looking forward to do well.
“We have a strong team and we are looking forward to the tournament,” said Muchenje.
Mathew Masinge