THE Harare edition of the Mutupo/Isibongo Golf Tournament, which was played at Royal Harare Golf Club last Friday proved to be a major success with a bumper field of more than 160 golfers teeing off in the opening event of the popular series.

It was a hive of activity as golfers started teeing off as early as 6am in the morning with the golf ensemble of corporate executives, government officials, entrepreneurs, diplomats, professional golfers, pensioners, social golfers and juniors golfers all coming to play golf and score points to their mutupo/Isibongo category.

A total of 14 corporates including the Mutupo Isibongo Golf Tournament brand partners Surrey Group, Proton & Lake Harvest pitched up their gazebo stands to market their products and services to the huge turn-out of golfers that was coming to play.

The Moyos took home the winner's 50 points by after coming out tops at the 2023 Harare edition season opener by posting a solid 144 points, the same number of scores as the Mbizi clan.

However, the Moyos won the count-out as their next best score after the first best four scores was a 34, and the next best score for Mbizi was a 32.

For finishing second, the Mbizis thus pocketed 47 points while the Mukanyas came in a good third position with 44 points while Mhofu, Hungwe, Shumba, Nzou, Dziva Ngara and Gumbo are well placed in the top half of the leaderboard.

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With the organisers now incorporating a new formula to balance the Mutupos/Isibongos with a lower number of golfers in the next edition in Mashonaland Central province at Bindura Golf Club on March 25, the bottom half teams will soon be challenging for top points for all the upcoming editions.

The male winner for the Harare edition was Albert Hatidani (Hungwe) who posted 39 points on an individual Stableford format.

The best female Individual Stableford score on the day were Patricia Madera (Mbizi) and Katherine Magenga (Moyo) who both finished on 38 points before the former won on the count-out.

Ranganayi Zihumo, Group Marketing for Surrey Group, spoke on behalf of his organisation and Lake Harvest.

He emphasised that their companies partnered the Mutupo Isibongo Golf Tournament brand as they saw it as a popular golf product which cuts across society and also that it will be hosted in nine out of 10 of Zimbabwe 's provinces.

Mutupo Isibongo Golf Tournament Director Ephraim Mashingaidze said they were overwhelmed by the huge responses from both the participants and corporates wanting to market their products and services through the event and said they are now getting ready to prepare the upcoming editions.

He also thanked all the media houses who came to cover the pre-build and actual golf day saying their publicising of the Mutupo Isibongo Golf Tournament was in a way helping to raise awareness to preserve and appreciate “our rich unique cultural heritage”.

The tournament director advised that as per the schedule, the next edition of the Mutupo Isibongo Golf Tournament will be hosted in Mashonaland Central province at Bindura Golf Club on March 25.

Registration to participate has been opened and indications are pointing to another good turn-out in Bindura.