Top Zimbabwe amateur golfer Michael Wallace has made a big decision to leave collegiate golf in the United States as he focuses on turning pro in the next two years.
Wallace played his first tournament back in the country in the Manicaland Amateur at Hillside Golf Club in Mutare last weekend where he was the defending champion and finished second after rounds of 76 72 and 70 for a 1 – under par score, eight shots behind winner Vincent Chidambazina.
The budding golfer joined Midland College in Texas last year but has decided to take another route for his golf career.
“It feels very good (to be back home). I was in America so now I am just focused on my golf and maybe I am going to turn pro in about two years. But it feels really good to be back. Hopefully I will turn pro and as I said for the next two years, I will be playing golf in South Africa and in Zimbabwe,” Wallace said.
Wallace is one of the country’s budding stars and had a brilliant season on the local amateur circuit last year where he won the Dugmore Trophy, the Manicaland Amateur and Zimbabwe Amateur championship. And at Hillside Golf Club last weekend he had a bad start but improved with each passing round.
His final round 3 – under par 70 was the best for the day although it was not enough to help him defend his title.
“It (the tournament) was very good. I didn’t play too well yesterday morning, I have had a bit of a wrist injury so I just kind of battled it out in the morning and just stuck to my routine going through my shots, and then I came out this morning and played quite well, shot 3 – under didn’t manage to win but still it was a really good week.
“The competition was tough, Vincent played really well, he was really good competition as well as Braydon, he kind of got me on my toes. Obviously, Vincent won so well done to him he brought the best out of me today,” he said after the tournament.
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