Zimbabwe golfers aim to break two-decade title dry spell

FOR over two decades, Zimbabwe has yearned for a local golfer to triumph at the prestigious Zimbabwe Open, a victory that continues to elude its home-grown talent. The last time a Zimbabwean international claimed the Zimbabwe Open title was in 2000, when Mark McNulty secured a one-stroke victory over South Africa’s Jean Hugo in what was then known as the CABS/Old Mutual Zimbabwe Open.

Recently, there has been a resurgence of hope that a local player could finally go the distance and seize the coveted title at the magnificent Royal Harare Golf Club. However, despite several near misses, that elusive victory has yet to materialise.

With the 2025 Zimbabwe Open rapidly approaching, Kieran Vincent, once again, stands as one of the local golfers who carries the nation’s hopes. One of the country’s leading professional golfers, he has delivered impressive performances in the past two editions, finishing tied for sixth in 2023 and fourth in 2024 respectively.

The 27-year-old’s form on the Sunshine Tour has reignited the prospect of a local winner. Playing in his fifth tournament on this season’s Sunshine Tour during the Joburg Open, which concluded at Houghton Golf Club this past Sunday, Vincent delivered yet another stellar performance.

Vincent secured a top-10 finish at the co-sanctioned Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour event, finishing in sixth position after posting an impressive 11-under-par-269. He finished just three shots behind the leading trio of Callum Hill, Jacques Kruyswijk, and Shaun Norris, who were separated by a playoff.

Vincent carded four solid rounds of 66, 69, 67, and 67.

In the opening round, the highly-rated Zimbabwean professional began with five birdies, including a birdie on the par-four first hole, the par-five fifth, the par-four sixth, the par-three 14th, and the par-four 18th. However, a bogey on the par-four 15th left him with a round of four-under-66.

After the first round, Vincent was tied for 20th, six shots behind the clubhouse leader, Shaun Norris. The second round proved more challenging, despite four birdies, including two on each nine.

Vincent birdied the par-four third and fifth holes before picking up additional birdies on the par-five 10th and the par-four 12th. However, he dropped shots with a double-bogey on the par-four 15th and a bogey on the par-three 16th, finishing with one-under-69 and was on a total of five-under after 36 holes.

In the third round, Vincent staged a strong comeback, making several key birdies to climb the leader board. Starting with a birdie on the par-four first hole, he followed with a bogey on the par-four fourth. On the back nine, he birdied the par-four 12th, par-four 13th, and par-four 15th to card a remarkable round of three-under 67, which moved him to tied fifth after 54 holes on the leader board.

Entering the final round six shots behind the leader, Norris, who was at 14-under, Vincent played a solid round, making five birdies. He birdied the par-four second hole and the par-four fifth, before a bogey on the eighth. After that, he made birdies on the par-five 10th, the par-four 11th, and the 15th, although a bogey on the par-three 16th left him with a final round of three-under 67.

Vincent’s final total of 11-under-par-269 was enough for a sixth-place finish.

Zimbabwean born Sean Crocker finished tied for 52nd with a score of one-under-par-279, while Benjamin Follet-Smith survived the cut, finishing in 78th place with 16-over-par-296. Robson Chinhoi missed the cut after shooting 72 and 68 in the first two rounds.

Hill won the playoff to claim the prestigious trophy.

Following a disappointing outing in the Joburg Open, Follet-Smith went on to finish as the runner up at the National Aids Council (NAC) Pro-Am at Royal Harare Golf Club on Thursday. He was just one shot behind the winner, Stephen Ferreira.

It was the Zimbabwe-based Portuguese golfer Ferreira’s second NAC Pro-Am title after he won the inaugural event in 2016.

Follet-Smith carded seven-under-par-209 while Ferreira shot eight-under-par-208. Garry Thompson and Chinhoi were tied for third place on four-under-par-212 while Stuart Krog and Promise Sombreiro were tied for fifth on two-under-par-214. Nyasha Muyambo and Dayne Moore were tied for position seven with scores of one-under-par-215. Bradley Kulaisi shot a level-par-216.

With local golfers in strong form, it has sparked a renewed wave of hope that a 20-year jinx could finally be broken.

The 2025 Sunshine Tour sanctioned Zimbabwe Open is scheduled for 4 to 11 May.
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