THE prospect of playing alongside some of the region’s top professional golfers will no doubt spice up the competition at the inaugural Masvingo Amateur Championship which tees off tomorrow at the Hippo Valley and Triangle Golf Courses.
DANIEL NHAKANISO SPORTS REPORTER
With top four amateur golfers guaranteed automatic places in the field for next month’s Golden Pilsener Zimbabwe Open, the Masvingo Amateur Championship presents the last opportunity to qualify for the co-sanctioned tournament set for Royal Harare Golf Club from April 9 to 12.
Royal Harare Golf Club amateur Tonderai Masunga currently leads the standings while Thembelani Vundla, Visitor Mapwanya, Stuart Krog, Doctor Maphosa and Kieran Vincent a have a strong chance of finishing in the top four.
Zimbabwe Golf Association (ZGA) development officer Boniface Chigorimbo said they were expecting a strong field of over 70 amateur golfers at the event to be hosted by the Masvingo Provincial Golf Union.
“At the moment we have 64 players who have entered and we are expecting another 15 players before the close of entries,” Chigorimbo said.
“We are expecting some stiff competition from players in the top division as this will be their final chance to qualify for the Zimbabwe Open, as the top four on the ZGA Order of Merit standings will qualify.”
“The players will play 18 holes on Friday, 36 holes on Saturday and the final 18 holes on the final day. It is a medal and Stableford competition, medal for the top amateurs up to 12 handicap and Stableford for the rest of the men,” he said.
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In addition to the Golden Pilsener Zimbabwe Open slots, the tournament which carries official World Amateur Golf Ranking points could determine the final travelling squad for the forthcoming Africa Zone VI Golf Championship set for Uganda in April.
ZGA recently announced a 10-member provincial squad which will be trimmed to the final eight for the continental event which will be played at the Uganda Golf Club Kitante course.
The 10 players who make up the team include Masunga, Krog, Vundla, Maphosa, Mapwanya, Vincent, Pride Sembo, David Amm, John Milazi and Howard Bauti.
Players are expected to begin training for the event on March 30 at Sherwood Golf Club in Harare.
