TOP amateur golfer Vincent Chidambazina shot an impressive 2-under par 70 to help Zimbabwe to fourth place on the first day of the All Africa Golf Team Championship which teed off at Bulawayo Golf Club yesterday.
Chidambazina’s round of 70, which comprised five birdies and three bogeys, meant that he finished the opening day in fifth place on the individual standings, two shots behind the leading pair of Egyptian Issa Abou Ellela Amr and Joseph Akena from Uganda who carded 68.
The golfer, who hails from Chimanimani, has had a good season on the local amateur circuit, where he has bagged three tournaments, namely the Matebeleland Amateur, Hillside Masters and the Manicaland Amateur.
South Africa’s Ivan Vester and Michael Chuma finished the day in a tie for third after shooting 69.
Michael Wallace was the second best Zimbabwean on the individual leaderboard in a three-way tie for 16th after managing 2-over par 74, with Keegan Shutt enduring a difficult day in which he shot 76 and settled for a seven way tie for 23rd.
Kelvin Muchenje shot 77 and is tied for 30th going into round 2 of the competition.
As expected, South Africa dominated the team competition with a combined total of 7-under par 209 and were five strokes ahead of second-placed Zambia on 2-under par 214.
Team Uganda finished the day in third place on 1-over par 217, with a three stroke cushion over fourth place Zimbabwe, who are the hosts for the tournament.
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A total of 11 countries are taking part in the biennial four-day continental championship, which concludes of Friday.
Other countries taking part include Botswana, Mauritius, Gabon, Malawi, Kenya and Eswatini.
The tournament is being held in Zimbabwe for the first time since 2017 when it was staged in Victoria Falls at Elephant Hills Golf Course.
Africa Golf Confederation (AGC) president Johnson Omolo officially launched the event with the flag-raising ceremony on Monday afternoon.
“We are grateful to the Zimbabwe Golf Association (ZGA) through the AGC vice-president and ZGA president (Martin Chikwana) for hosting this prestigious event on our golfing calendar. Golf is a uniting sport that offers opportunities to make friends, network for business and compete for honours,” Omolo said.
“Africa is united in Bulawayo Zimbabwe due to the warm hospitality that the natives have always extended to visitors. We have no doubt that this year’s event will be a great success and a champion shall emerge.”
