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Brandon Moyo
ZIMBABWE’S top amateur golfers have left the country for Japan where they are set to participate in the 2024 Toyota World Junior Golf World Cup, which gets underway early next week.
The country’s top amateur golfers left the country on Thursday for the tournament, in which they will be competing against 11 other countries for the world title in the boys’ category. However, the tournament has 21 teams including nine girls’ teams.
The tournament is pencilled in to start on June 18, after the junior amateur competition and the official practice, happening on the same day as the opening ceremony.
Zimbabwe will be represented by Keegan Shutt, Tanaka Chatora, and Tawana Mangoma who qualified for the global showpiece after finishing second in the All Africa Golf Team Championships, which took place in South Africa in April.
Team Zimbabwe is under the stewardship of Coach Simon Murungweni and will be making their return to the Junior World Cup for the first time in seven years.
Speaking to Zimpapers Sports Hub, Zimbabwe Golf Association (ZGA) president, Martin Chikwana said the players prepared well for the upcoming tournament and are confident that they will give it their all on the greens next week. Prior to their departure for Japan, they also had a three-day camp.
Some of the countries they will be competing against are Sweden, England, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Japan, Korea, Australia, Canada, USA, Mexico, Colombia and Argentina.
“We have always been there (at the Junior World Cup), which is something that speaks volumes of our standing. It shows that we are at the top, a powerhouse in African golf. I encourage the boys to give their all, and also the championship will help them see where they can improve as they learn more about everything golf,” said Chikwana.
In securing their qualification to the global showdown, Zimbabwe’s players produced an impressive final round of two-under par 214 in the All Africa Golf Team Championships to finish the tournament on a total score of 18-over-par 882 and book a ticket to Japan.
South Africa, who have always dominated the event emerged runaway winners yet again on an incredible four-round total of 22-under-par 842, 40 strokes ahead of their nearest rival Zimbabwe. The Toyota Junior World Cup is set to conclude on Friday, June 21. —@brandon_malvin
Online Reporter