admin
Takudzwa Chitsiga-Sports Reporter
THE 2023 FBC Zim-Open Golf Championship was launched at Royal Harare with an improved purse of US$150 000.
The country’s flagship golf tournament will be staged at Royal Harare from May 4-7.
FBC Holdings lived up to their promise as they returned for the second year running as the title sponsors.
The Zimbabwe Open Committee chairman Livingstone Gwata was excited with the commitment shown by FBC Holding in supporting local golf. Gwata was also happy they have successfully run the Zimbabwe Open since it was resuscitated in 2010.
“We are most grateful to FBC Holdings Limited for taking on the title sponsorship for the second year in a row. FBC Holdings have the distinction of having supported the Zimbabwe Open in virtually all the major sponsorship categories over the decades.
“Some of you will be aware that the Zimbabwe Open was launched in 1986 and ran through to 2001 when the national tournament was mothballed due to the economic turbulence that the country experienced then in terms of foreign remittances for the tournament winners. “The Open Committee is a subsidiary of the Zimbabwe Golf Association (ZGA). We resuscitated the Zimbabwe Open in 2010 and it has run successfully year in and year out with the exception of the period 2019 through to 2021 due to unprecedented uncertainties that included the dangerous Covid-19 pandemic.
“We have offered title sponsorship to our partners and sponsors over the years and thus afforded them the opportunity to name the tournament after their chosen brand.
“We have been fortunate to have the tournament named after illustrious brands over the years which include Africom twice, Golden Pilsener several times, and Old Mutual in that order,” said Gwata.
ZGA president Martin Chikwana said he was impressed by the way the Open Committee managed to organise this year’s tournament.
“We are grateful to FBC Bank and all its associate sponsors OK Zimbabwe, anchor sponsors Golden Pilsener, Tongaat Huletts, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Technology partner as well as all the official partners in Cimas, Speed Link Cargo, Zuva Petroleum, Croco Motors and African Sun Hotels for their support in making this event possible. Without their generous support, we would notbe able to host such a prestigious event.
“It’s important to mention that all if not most of these companies have been part of this journey in good and bad times, we indeed appreciate you.
“The Zimbabwe Golf Open Championship is a celebration of the sport of golf, uniting professionals, amateurs and enthusiasts from around the world to test their skills on our beautiful greens at Royal Harare,” said Chikwana.
The Zimbabwe Open has since 1986 been won by three Zimbabweans namely Anderson Rusike, who was an amateur at the time of his victory, Nick Price and Mark McNulty.
South Africa’s Albert Venter will be returning to Zimbabwe this year to defend the title he won last year. The 27-year-old recorded his maiden Sunshine Tour victory after a two-rounds of a sudden-death playoff against compatriots Louis Albertse and Stefan Wears-Taylor.
Ryan Cairns was the highest placed Zimbabwean on the leaderboard in a tie for 14th
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter