Zimbabwe golfers hope to retain AAGTC title

AS the dates for the commencement of the 2024 All Africa Golf Team Championship (AAGTC) draw closer, Zimbabwe will be hoping that their talented group of golfers will retain the coveted title home.

The continent’s premier amateur golfing tournament will be hosted at Bulawayo Golf Club starting on Sunday, running through the week until November 2.

Zimbabwe already has a team in place, a contingent that has five talented players. The five players who were tasked with flying the country’s flag high are Tanaka Chatora, Vincent Chidambazina, Kelvin Muchenje, Keegan Shutt and Michael Wallace. They will be under the tutelage of Simon Murungweni with Munodawafa Mutupo as the team manager.

Today, Zimpapers Sports Hub will look at the profile of Keegan Shutt. The red-hot 18-year-old prodigy was, last month, named the 2023 Junior Sportsman of the year at the Annual National Sports Awards.

In July only, the inform Shutt managed to win a staggering three tournaments including the biggest event on the local amateur circuit, the Zimbabwe Amateur Championship which was held at Chapman Golf Club.

Apart from that, he also won the Champion of Champions tournament that was held at Bulawayo Country Club and the Chapman Grand Slam in the capital.

At the Zimbabwe Amateur Championship, Shutt shot rounds of 73, 69, 68 and 72 to finish on an overall six-under-par-282. He has solidified his status as one of the best amateur golfers in the country.

At the Africa Amateur Championship held at the majestic Leopard Creek Country Club, nestled in the heart of Mpumalanga, South Africa, Shutt stole the spotlight.

In an awe-inspiring final round, Shutt shattered records with a 10-under-par 62, a staggering 15-shot leap from his third round. This feat placed him among the best amateur golfers in Zimbabwe and beyond.

Starting from the 10th tee, the 17-year-old showcased a masterful front nine with six birdies, followed by gains on the 11th and 12th holes, and a spectacular eagle on the 15th. It became the new course record at Leopard Creek.

Shutt will be one of the Zimbabwean players to look out for at the AAGTC. The AAGTC which is a biennial tournament, is the continent’s premier amateur golf event bringing together the best amateur golfers from across 20 African nations.

Morocco are the defending champions having dethroned perennial winners South Africa in the previous edition held in Egypt in 2022.Participating teams are expected to arrive in Zimbabwe on October 27 and the official opening ceremony and practice round will be on October 28.

The championship’s first round is on October 29 and will stretch until November 1 for the fourth and final round before prize presentation. Competing teams are set to leave Bulawayo on November 2, marking the end of the tournament. —@brandon_malvin