Teenage golfer Kudzai Mandava is a big fan of iconic global superstars Tiger Woods and she also dreams of turning professional one day and also excel like her idol.
But for a golfer who grew up in Mutare, the journey has been far from easy for Mandava.
However, the 19-year-old appears to have hit a major breakthrough after she got a scholarship to study and play golf at University of North Western Ohio.
Initially, Mandava was supposed to be traveling to the United States this month but due to unforeseen circumstances it was not to be.
The golfer is now scheduled to leave the country in January as she takes her golf career to the next step.
"I was looking forward to going to school in the US this August but faced some challenges and now I am set to go in January. I will be attending the University of North Western Ohio. After school it is my dream and vision to turn professional but I know that it's a long journey. It's going to be hard but I will try my best to turn professional and excel," she said.
Mandava will join another Zimbabwean female golfer Primross Chikwaya who is also at the University of North Western Ohio.
From humble beginnings in Mutare where she was the only lady playing golf at some moment Mandava has risen to become one of the country's best golfers.
- Mandava takes golf dream to America
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This year alone Mandava has won the Munhumutapa Stroke play, the Masvingo Amateur, the Zimbabwe Ladies Golf Union Midlands competition and the Royal Harare ladies club championship.
And after losing her father at 10, she never thought she would reach this far as a golfer.
"I am the biggest fan of Tiger Woods. I have been watching him play and he used to play an extraordinary game he still does and he is one of the people who motivated me to play golf.
"There are also guys like Robson Chinhoi, Biggie Chibvuri and Promise Sombrero, those guys come from Mutare and that has also motivated me.
"I have been playing golf since 2016. It's really been a long journey but I am trying to keep on working on the game to improve. Golf is a really a really difficult game but you just have to be patient and trust that you can make it.
How it all started is a funny story because I used to go to Hillside Golf Club with my best friend and we used to go there as kids just to play on the swings and go back home to our parents and lie that we were practising.
"I used to stay close to the golf club but we relocated to a place further away from the course and I actually stopped playing around 2015.I started playing again because golf was introduced at the school that I was going to Chancellor Primary school. I just told myself that I used to play their sport and it would be easier to come back and play. Since that time I haven't stopped playing.
"I used to be the only girl playing golf in Mutare so sometimes I couldn't travel to tournaments because I was the only girl taking part. Fortunately I met Aunty Poly Crewe who has been supporting me. I started playing tournaments and I got more exposure.Looking at where I was and where I am now it's really a big improvement," she said.
Mandava has advice for other young girls who want to pursue a career in golf.
"The most important thing is to start and see where it takes you. I didn't think that I would be here in Harare playing in the top golf event but I just held my head high. I believe if you keep pushing you will find someone who will help you," she said.
A born athlete, the former Sakubva High School was also good in athletics, football and tennis.
Mandava has also represented the national team.
She maintains that her biggest achievement is breaking the course record at Royal Harare.
