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MBABANE – Golfers will be back at the fairways later this year for the returning prestigious King’s Cup Golf Tournament.
This past Thursday, in a press briefing, Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Moses Vilakati, announced the return of Eswatini’s flagship golf event after it was put on hold following the advent of COVID-19. It takes centre stage from September 6 -9 this year at Ezulwini Golf and Country Club.
King’s Cup Committee Chairman Samuel ‘Styles’ Richards told this publication that the goal at this stage was to have the tournament back, saying the prize breakdown would be released at a later stage. The sponsorship is E1.6 million, while the outstanding golfers would get a share from a E500 000 purse.
“We will expect golfers from abroad once the tournament returns to its full status. The prize money would be E500 000.
“The sponsors will be announced in due course,” he said.
The last edition, which was played under the Sunshine Tour banner back in 2019, was sponsored to a tune of E2.2m. The champion pocketed a whopping E158 500. South Africa’s Jaco Ahlers did not drop a single shot in the final round of the King’s Cup in 2019 to cruise to a three-stroke victory for his eighth Sunshine Tour title.
In fact, he made just one bogey all week as he carded six-under-par 66 to leave Daniel Greene in second place on 16-under-par for the tournament, with Alex Haindl and Estiaan Conradie sharing third a further shot back.
Close to 40 professionals, including emaSwati golfers, are expected to take to the greens for the retuning tournament.
Some randomly interviewed local golfers expressed their delight on being part of the exciting tournament. Shining professional golfer James Pennington said he was looking forward to competing in his fifth King’s Cup.
“It is amazing news that one of our biggest golf tournaments in the country is back on.
“I look forward to being back to play in it again,” said the gifted golfer, who is also the Eswatini Royal Insurance Corporation (ESRIC) Brand Ambassador. Meanwhile, the golf tournament is a product of His Majesty King Mswati III’s 2004 Job Creation Summit. It attracts businesspeople from South Africa and around the region, and tends to pack out the hotels in Ezulwini.