Zim team leaves for World Cup

TEAM ZIMBABWE . . . The team to represent the country at the World Cup (from left) coach Phillip Tshuma, Justin Kestern, Mbongeni Maphosa, Stuart Krog, Kieren Vincent and Brian Maphosa pose for a group photo just before they left for Japan yesterday

Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Junior team left the country yesterday for the Toyota World Junior Golf Championship in Nagoya, Japan.
The will take part in the 72-hole tournament to be played over four days from June 24 to 27.
The team consists of the top four junior players in the country — Stuart Krog, Justin Kersten, Kieren Vincent and Mbongeni Maphosa.
Philip Tshuma, a Bulawayo-based professional, is the coach.

Zimbabwe Junior Golf Association president Brian Maphosa said they were sending a strong team to the tourney.
Zimbabwe qualified for the World Cup after coming second to South Africa at Chainama Golf Club in Lusaka, Zambia, six weeks ago.
Zimbabwe returns to the tournament after a nine-year absence.

South Africa won the tournament once in 2001 and have been the sole African representatives over the years.
Other countries battling it out at this prestigious tournament are the United States, Norway, France, Italy, South Africa, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, Argentina and Chile. In 1993 Zimbabwe came seventh in the tournament.

Maphosa believes the current team will make their presence felt at the tourney.
“Zimbabwe has always been on the world stage when it comes to golf and we will definitely make a mark as well,” said Maphosa.

“We have a very strong team of disciplined and talented players who can stand against the best of the world’s junior golfers.”
Only four African countries have participated in the prestigious tournament in its 22-year history with Kenya and Morocco bring the other two.

In addition to Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel, the two South Africans who went on to win major titles, notable former participants include Bud Cauley (USA), Kevin Chappell (USA), Brendon de Jonge (Zimbabwe), Russell Henley (USA), Ryuji Imada (Japan), Trevor Immelman (South Africa), Anthony Kim (USA), Hunter Mahan (USA), Edoardo Molinari (Italy), Justin Rose (England), Kyle Stanley (USA), Henrik Stenson (Sweden) and Camilo Villegas (Colombia).

The Toyota Junior Golf World Cup 2014 follows a four-players-count-three scores format and is played over four rounds.