BULAWAYO Golf Club (BGC) professional Brian Gondo says he is working hard to ensure that he gets enough preparation for the prestigious Golden Pilsener Zimbabwe Open tournament which will be held in Harare next month.
SUKOLUHLE MTHETHWA SPORTS REPORTER
Gondo, a previous winner of the Hwange Open and Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Invitational Tournament in 2012 is yet to fully recover from a hand injury he sustained during the Africa Open Championships last year.
He missed tournaments like Data Pro-Am in Fancourt, George South and the Tshwane Open in Els Club Copperleaf.
At last week’s Pre-Open Classic he finished in a two-way tie for 10th position with Farayi Chitengwa.
He started slowly with a five-under par 77 before coming back strongly with a three-under 69 for a total of two-over par.
Gondo said he was preparing for next month’s competition.
“I am happy with what I have done so far. I am just hoping to progress,” he said.
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“The injury I sustained last year affected me quite a lot. I would swing about 700 balls without feeling discomfort, but I had to cut down and just do soft shots because it was painful.
“The pain still comes and goes. It has not been easy, but I am practising,” he said.
Ignatius Mketekete won the $10 000 Pre-Open Classic after getting a final score of four-under par; winning the event by one shot over Tongo Charamba, Mick Hough, Ryan Cairns, Trainos Muradzikwa and Madalitso Muthiya at Royal Harare Golf Club last week.
BGC golfer Phillip Tshuma said he hoped for a better performance in the Pre-Open.
“I think I am making very good progress. I am now preparing for the Zim Open. In the Pre-Open in the 27th hole I was one under with nine holes to go.
If I had maintained that and got a few birdies I could have got a good result.
“I have been giving myself too much pressure. I need to work on that,” he said.
“I am also reading a golf book that is giving me tips on playing golf. I think it will also help me. My main aim is to do well.”
Tshuma carded 72 on the first day before a disastrous second day 80 for a total of eight-over par. Peter Banda started with eight-over par 80 and finished the second day on 75 ending the competition 11-over par.
