IT was a good day on the course for top local golfers Kieran Vincent, Scott Vincent and Ben Follett-Smith who stayed within touching distance of the leaders ahead of the final round of the 2024 FBC Zim Open at Royal Harare yesterday.
The three golfers managed to keep alive the country’s dream for a winner in the competition for the first time since 2000.
Ben Follett-Smith recorded the best score of the day with a brilliant 7-under par 65 to take his tally to 10-under for the tournament and a tie for fifth place.
The 30-year-old golfer made 70 and 71 in the first two days, but managed to play himself into contention for the title as he sits five strokes behind leader, South African Michael Hollick who carded 68 for a 15-under total.
But it is Kieran Vincent who maintained his place as the highest ranked Zimbabwean on the leaderboard, tied for third on 11-under after managing 5-under for the day.
Kierena Vincent reflected on a good day for the top three Zimbabwe golfers.
“All three of us are great players. It was only a matter of time before we were going to showcase that. It’s obviously a home track and we have played here a bunch. Nothing is really new to us so we will be able to settle in and enjoy our time out there. The fans get you going a little bit,” Kieran Vincent said.
“It was another good day here in Zimbabwe, the fans came out in great support. It was cool to have my family out there and it was good to see my brother playing well. It was such a good momentum, I struck the ball great just the similar stuff I have been doing in the last two days and a couple of putts go in and at the end of the day I shot 5-under and I am excited for tomorrow,” he added.
His elder brother Scott Vincent made it three Zimbabweans in the top five after recording the second best score of the day with a superb 66 marred by a triple bogey on the 10th hole to finish the day on 10-under and tie for fifth place going into the final round.
Hollick, who was tied for second after two rounds, made an eagle on the 16th as well as three birdies and two bogeys to assume top spot on the leaderboard.
Former champion Darren Fichardt also from South Africa, continued with his fine form at this year’s edition of the Zimbabwe Open after shooting a cautious 69 to keep within one stroke of the leader on 14-under par.
Overnight leader Martin Vorster from South Africa, who shot the lowest score of 62 at Royal Harare on Friday had a tough day on the course managing 4-over par 76 to slip to ninth place, tied on the standings with compatriot Rupert Kaminski.
Michael Antony finished the day 11- under after carding 71 in the third round and shared third spot with Kieran Vincent.
Crowd favourite Robson Chinhoi failed to build on a good second round score of 68 and managed 73 to finish overall 3-under par in a five-way tie for 25th.
Another Zimbabwean Stuart Krog achieved his first under par score of the tournament after he carded 69 after barely making the cut on Friday.
Pride Sembo is the other local golfer with a below par total as he sits on 1-under after three rounds.
Nine Zimbabwe golfers made the cut in this year’s edition of the Zimbabwe Open with youngster Matthew Bramford the only amateur to make it into the weekend.
Bramford struggled in the third round with a 2-over par 74 score for a total of 3- over while Biggie Chibvuri (+2) and Mohammad Mandhu (+2) also made it into the final two rounds of the competition.