ZGA confident of positive outcomeat Africa Amateur Championship

THE Zimbabwe Golf Association (ZGA) is confident that the country’s representatives at the second edition of the Africa Amateur Championship at Leopard Creek in South Africa starting on Wednesday will perform well.

The Africa Amateur Championship and the Africa Amateur Women’s Invitational form part of the R&A’s (world governing body outside the Americas) strategy to provide a world-class platform for Africa’s most promising amateur golfers.

It will run from Wednesday until Saturday.

Zimbabwe will be represented by eight male golfers at the Africa Amateur namely Vincent Chidambazina (Hillside Golf Club Mutare), Kelvin Muchenje (ZRP Golf Club Harare), Keegan Shutt (Royal Harare Golf Club), Darlington Chikanyambidze (Royal Harare Golf Club), Shepherd Chiwaya (Wingate Park Golf Club Harare), Elton Zulu (Bindura Golf Club), Michael Wallace (Royal Harare Golf Club), and Tanaka Chatora (Royal Harare Golf Club).

There are three female golfers that will also be competing at the Women’s Invitational. The three are Primrose Chikwaya, Miriam Masiya and Danielle Bekker.

The eight players to participate in this prestigious tournament were selected based on their World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), previous performance or their ranking at the All Africa Golf Team Championship Tournament which was held in Bulawayo last year in October.

The competition is not a team event but an individual event.

In a statement ZGA president Martin Chikwana — who is also the head of delegation said they are looking forward to solid performances from the players. Last year, Zimbabwe had four players at the inaugural event.

“This is the second time that this competition is being hosted and we expect our golfers to do well in the competition, building on how they performed last year where we had four golfers and of mention will be Matthew Bramford who finished fourth while Keegan Shutt shot 10-under-par-62 and went on to set a new course record,” said Chikwana.

He added: “It is also going to be an opportunity for the Zimbabwe Golf Association leadership to engage with the R&A to reflect on the progress being made on the number of projects that are currently being implemented with the assistance of R&A.”

At last year’s inaugural championship, Bramford was one of the stand-out performers, securing a fourth-place finish with an impressive 10-under-par 288.

His round scores of 65, 74, 71, and 68 placed him just three shots behind the leading trio of Altin Van der Merwe, Christian Maas, and Ivan Vester, who all shot 13-under-par.

Van der Merwe eventually claimed victory after a play-off.

Shutt also made history during the tournament, setting a course record at Leopard Creek with a remarkable 10-under-par 62 in the fourth round.

Shutt, who has represented Zimbabwe in various international championships, started on the 10th tee and made six birdies on his front nine before adding shots on his 11th and 12th holes, followed by a brilliant eagle on the 15th.

He finished the tournament tied for eighth place with a level-par 288.

The upcoming Africa Amateur Championship will feature 72 men from across the African region competing in a 72-hole stroke play format.

The winner will earn an exemption into The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush.

Last year’s inaugural Africa Amateur Championship and Women’s Invitational, held simultaneously at Leopard Creek, marked a significant milestone in the development of amateur golf in Africa.

ZGA said they are grateful to R&A for their continued support to the golf programmes and in particular the funding of this tournament from airfares, accommodation for the players and officials.

“We remain indebted to the R&A who are our all-weather friends,” read the statement. – @brandon_malvin