One of the country’s top amateur golfers Tafadzwa Nyamukondiwa is set to turn professional after completing his studies at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania recently.
Nyamukondiwa was part of the exciting lineup of amateur golfers that took part in the Zim Amateur a fortnight ago where young Keegan Shutt emerged as the winner.
The 23–year–old golfer tied for fourth place behind Shutt, Michael Wallace and Tariro November respectively, after carding 73 70 80, and 76 while Chiwaya managed 73 71 80, and 75 in 72 holes.
“I am turning pro. I am planning on trying to make my way up, obviously starting on mini-tours and working my way to my potential. I am going to work as hard as I can and keep going. It’s nice to have a Degree, a Finance Degree which is nice but I want to play golf that is my passion,” Nyamukondiwa said after the Zim Amateur championship.
Nyamukondiwa joined the Philadelphia-based NCAA Division I University of Drexel from Western Texas College in 2020.
A year earlier, he had clinched a golf scholarship to study and play at Western Texas College and after excelling at Western Texas College, Nyamukondiwa got an opportunity to continue his growth in the sport at Drexel.
He speaks about his five-year experience in the US.
“It was a great learning curve. You learn a lot of things like golf games, mental game, physique, what to eat on the golf course, and a lot more. I leant a lot of things that we do not have here and using the facilities there I think prepares you for the future whether you are turning pro or taking the business route whatever you are doing.
“The big dream is obviously to play on the PGA. I want to play on the DP and obviously I will start in South Africa and work my way up until I get there,” he said.
Nyamukondiwa’s golf journey started when he was just nine years old at Wingate Park Golf Club and later moved to join Chapman Golf Club where he was a member until the time he left for the US. He captained a winning Zimbabwe side in the Tri-Nations tournament that involved Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe at the age of 15 while he also represented Zimbabwe in the All-Africa Golf Championship, which the country hosted in 2017 at Royal Harare Golf Club.
In the same year, he flew the country’s flag in Japan at the Toyota World Golf Junior Championship and was ranked as the country’s best junior golfer in 2018.
The former Zimbabwe junior golf team captain had a breakthrough season at Drexel University back in 2022 after winning his maiden collegiate title at the Yale Spring Invitational in New Haven, Connecticut, and was subsequently named the Colonial Athletic Association golfer.
