THERE is a palpable weight of expectation on the local golfers to provide the first winner of Zimbabwe Open when the competition tees off at Royal Harare Golf Club in Harare this morning.
The FBC Zimbabwe Open championship, which has attracted 144 golfers from across the globe, is set to conclude on Sunday.
All of the country’s top golfers, including the Vincent siblings Scott and Kieran, Robson Chinhoi, Ben Follett-Smith and Stuart Krog, among others are taking part in the flagship annual golf competition.
There are also no less than seven former champions competing in the FBC Holding Group-sponsored event, among them defending champion Neil Schietekat, two time winner Jbe’ Kruger and 2001 winner Darren Fichardt among others.
Krog, who has been playing on the Sunshine Tour for the past year believes Zimbabwe has the best chance of providing a winner of the tournament for the first time since 2000 when legend Mark McNulty bagged it at the same venue.
“I think this is the best chance that we have had (to win it), but golf is golf, expectation may lead to disappointment. But I think all the Zimbabwe golfers are very comfortable in their skin and they want to put on a show and so hopefully we can keep the trophy at home,” he told NewsDay Sport yesterday.
“I am ready. It’s just another week, this is a home Open, so you want to do well at home, but at the end of the day if I do everything good with my preparation then I get my best shot of succeeding during the week. I feel like I am in a good spot right now and I am excited to play this week,” the 28-year-old golfer said.
The event launched on Sunday with a pre-qualifier event saw ProAm competition being held in the past two days as a precursor to the main Championship.
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Tournament director Michael Mahachi is happy with preparations for the Championship tee off.
“I must say we are ready to get going tomorrow when the championship tees off early in the morning. All the players who entered the tournament have registered which means we don’t have any withdrawals of players we expected to make the strong field that we have this year,” he said.
“A total of 144 players will tee off tomorrow and there will be a cut after 36 holes that will be 60 professional players and those tied will the proceed to the third and fourth round.
“This event continues to grow not just the way we see it, but from the feedback that we get from our sponsors and partners as well the players. We have seen it has become one of the favourites on the Sunshine Tour.
“This is evidenced by what the players have said during surveys that have been conducted by the Sunshine Tour. They feel it’s one of the most special events they play every year. They talk about the organisation of the event and the great golf course and above all the hospitality that they get from the Zimbabweans, so we are very proud of ourselves.”
Scott Vincent will be making a second appearance at the event since his debut as a professional in 2016 when he was the best placed Zimbabwean following an impressive final round 7-under-65 which saw him tie for fourth place.
Last year, the younger of the two siblings, Kieran Vincent took part in the FBC Zimbabwe Open and tied for sixth place on 3-under par 285 after four rounds of golf.
Zimbabwe golf legend Nick Price, Tony Johnstone and Mark McNulty are the only local professionals to have won the tournament.
Other local-based players who have done well so far are David Amm who won the Lowveld ProAm at the beginning of March before Visitor Mapwanya held his nerve to beat Brian Gondo in the National Aids Council HIV and Cancer Prevention Drive ProAm at Royal Harare two weeks later.
