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MBABANE – It was a great experience for professional golfer James Pennington who played alongside big guns in the FBC Zimbabwe Open at the Royal Harare Golf Club.
The Sunshine Tour event was played for over three days, with Pennington playing in the first two days and did not make the cut for the final day. In the two days, he played seven over par. There were 148 golfers who competed in the tournament.
The Eswatini Royal Insurance Corporation (ESRIC) brand ambassador played alongside the winner in South Africa’s Albert Venter, who went to a superb final-round 66 and a playoff sinking a 16-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to claim his maiden Sunshine Tour title on Sunday. 16-year-old pool player Sinenkhosi Maseko.
According to the sunshine. com, others were Stefan Wears-Taylor, Luca Filippi Louis de Jager and Jaco Ahlers, among others.
Pennington went to the tournament in Zimbabwe, having won the Eswatini Professional Golf Association (EPGA) PRO-AM, played early this month at the Ezulwini Golf Club where he defeated 11 players.
Conditions
The tournament in Zimbabwe was played at the Royal Harare Golf Club which was founded in1898 by a group of intrepid golf lovers, who played on conditions far removed from the lush course that we know today.
The course was established in the current location in 1901. The original course with its ‘sand greens’ was very differently laid out to the current design. Originally known as Salisbury Golf Club, the Club was granted royal patronage in December 1929.
Royal Harare has always embraced change with a ‘can do’ attitude as attested to by the progress made from those first days of a ‘Links’ style course, maintained by grazing livestock and hardy committee members.
Despite its manicured lush appearance, Royal Harare is indeed no pushover; the course rewards shrewd shot choice and course management. Many a golfer has been lulled into carelessness by the veneer of ease that the course projects, only to be humiliated. This is as per information sourced from the event website.
Next for Pennington is the Sishen Classic to be played at the Sishen Golf Club from May 26 to May 29 over four rounds. The tournament is sponsored to the tune of E3 million and Pennington has already registered for it.
Veteran pool player Kunene.
DAVID AND GOLIATH
Players: Sinenkhosi Maseko vs Beyonce Kunene
Venue: Ludzeludze Pool Club
Date: May 29, 2022 (Sunday)
Time: 1pm
Race: To seven frames
PRICE BREAKDOWN:
First price: E500
Runner-up: E300