adminTHEMBELAMI Vundla donned the prestigious Hillside Green Jacket again after retaining the annual Hillside Masters title for the second successive year.
The Hillside Masters, the biggest event on the Hillside Golf Club calendar, was held last weekend at Hillside Golf Club in Mutare. Vundla won the same Championship Division contest last year after outplaying close competitor Clive Nguru following a run-off. After both golfers were tied on 290 points, Vundla got the better of Nguru on a count-out to win the 2013 Hillside Masters tournament.
Bonface Chigorimbo won the A Division title, while David Bunjira was crowned the B Division winner.
Hillside Golf Club captain Piniel Simbanegavi said the annual golf fete went on well although he bemoaned the low turnout of golfers during this year’s event.
Only 37 golfers took part.
“The tournament went on well although the turnout of golfers was not really what we expected. We only had 37 golfers. I think the major contributor to the low turnout was that there was a counter attraction at Leopard Rock where the Zimbabwe Ryder Cup was also being held at the same time.
“We also have a number of golfers who are in colleges or universities who could not take part in this event because of their academic commitments. We are exploring ways of shifting the dates so that we can also accommodate those in colleges.
“It cannot also be denied that the current economic hardships also contributed. Some golfers could not travel for the tournament owing to lack of financial resources,” said Simbanegavi.
Hillside Golf Club’s John Sigaba won the 2012 edition of the event after a play-off with close competitor Biggie Chibvuri.
The 37 golfers who took part in this year’s Hillside Maters also included the four Zimbabwe representatives in the President’s Cup to be held in Zambia.
Mutare-based Robie Chinhoyi, Vundla and two others are set to take part in the President’s Cup.
Online Reporter