Zim Open launched at Royal Harare

Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
THE 2014 edition of the Golden Pilsener Zimbabwe Open, was launched at Royal Harare yesterday with a marked increase in its sponsorship package. This year title sponsors, Delta Beverages, through their Golden Pilsener brand, have unveiled a R1,8 million sponsorship package from last year’s R1,65 million.
The tournament will be held at Royal Harare from April 10 to 13.

Zimbabwe Open Golf Committee chairman, Livingstone Gwata, hailed the sponsors for keeping the country’s premier golf tourney alive. Gwata also revealed that the tournament will be played using the same format that starts with a pre-qualifying round. “A pre-qualifying tournament will be held at Chapman at a date to be confirmed with two Pro-Ams at Royal some two days before the major tee off.

“Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe joins Zimplats and Innscor Africa as associate sponsors.”

MBCA Bank and Liquid have chipped in to support the event as well.

Liquid chief executive, Wellington Makamure, said this could be the start of a new relationship.

“We are happy and it is part of our social responsibility to be associated with a tournament of this magnitude. I believe the relationship will continue,” said Makamure. More than 140 professionals from different tours around the world are expected to take part in the Zimbabwe Open. The Zimbabwe Open will be officially launched on April 7 during which the course will be officially handed over to the Zimbabwe Open Committee.

Practice rounds are scheduled for April 7 to April 10 prior to the first Pro-Am while the pre-qualifier will be played on April 7 at Chapman. Last year, the Golden Pilsner

Zimbabwe Open was won by South Africa’s Jake Roos who rallied from behind to beat his compatriot, Darren Fichardt, and Italy’s Francesco Laporta in a nail-biting finish. Roos walked away with a cool R261 525 while Laporta and Fichardt took home R151 950 each.