adminTakudzwa Chitsiga
Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWEAN professional golfers Scott and Kieran Vincent are, for the first time, playing in the same field after they teed off in the US$1.5 million International Series Singapore in Tampines Course at Tanah Merah Country Club in Singapore yesterday.
The last time when Zimbabwe had siblings in the same Tour was when Nick and Tim Price played together in both the Sunshine and European Tours back in the 90s.
Scott, who is starting to earn the nickname “Mr International Series”, remain the favourite after firing a scintillating bogey-free eight-under-par 64 in the opening round yesterday as Kieran, a rookie, returned a 68 along with 10 other players including American Peter Uihlein. It’s his debut on the Asian Tour.
Kieran is playing his third professional tourney after playing his two opening matches in the Canadian Tour where he made a single cut and missed the other.
Malaysia’s number one Gavin Green sits in second place after an equally impressive and flawless 65 while Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana, Phachara Khongwatmai and Tirawat Kaewsiribandit, Korean Kyongjun Moon, Englishman Steve Lewton, and Filipino Juvic Pagunsan carded 67s — in severe sauna-like conditions.
Vincent won the International Series England in Newcastle in June and leads the International Series Order of Merit, having tied for 11th in the International Series Thailand in March, and was once again in inspired form in the Asian Tour’s new raft of million-dollar plus events.
The Zimbabwean told the Asian Tour that it was a good opening day and he is looking forward to a great week ahead.
“It was a great day, just got off to a really nice start, and then the momentum just kept going. As I have said before I am just out here trying to be a little better each day,” said Vincent.
“Today was a really good day, a lot of things went my way, a lot of putts went in, so it was a good challenge trying to stay present and stay in the moment and enjoy each stage and not get too far ahead. Yeah, so that was the big challenge today and the golf was phenomenal.”
He began his round on the back nine, and made birdies on 10, 13, 16 and 18; while on the front side he made gains on one, three, five and eight.
Not everything went his way though as on the par-three sixth he hit what looked like a precision tee shot that was zeroing in on the pin but hit his playing partner American Sihwan Kim’s ball.
Said Vincent: “Sihwan hit a shot to about three feet — that was the real problem. My shot came in and pitched on his ball and then kicked all the way back [about 30 feet]. I was fortunate to walk away with a par there but a nice little challenge there for me trying to finish my round. I was happy to walk away with a par.”
Scott praised his 24-year-old young brother Kieran saying he is confident he will do well with his career.
“He is a great player, I have no doubt he will do something really special with his golf, and whether it is here or whether it is down the road it is going to be really good to see him playing well because he is very capable and we’ll just see how he does coming in,” said the Zimbabwean, who won a title in Japan before his success in Newcastle.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s Ricky Handler continued with his fine form as he opened a four-point lead in the on-going NAC Pro-Am at Royal Harare.
Handler followed up his opening round offour-under-68 with an impressive five-under-67 for a total nine-under 135 with Zimbabwe’s Robson Chinhoi in second place, seven shorts adrift.
Chinhoi, a multiple winner, had rounds of 71 and 72 for one-under total 143. Bradley Kulaisi was the most improved as he scored 69 following a 74 to move into third place.
Ryan Cairns and Mairos Katembenuka complete the top five as Ignatius Mketekete, Visitor Mapwanya, Robson Saurombe,
Nyasha Muyambo and Arkil Yousuf took the other top 10 places respectively.
The tournament’s curtain comes down this morning.
Online Reporter