Zim Open pre-qualifiers tee off

ROYAL Harare will come alive when the 2016 Golden Pilsener Zimbabwe Open golf tournament pre-qualifiers tee off this morning.

The event will see several professional and amateur golfers trying to make it to the main event which begins on Thursday.

Local professionals, who did not make it through exemption, will battle it out with more than 50 others for the last eight slots.

These players include Dean Scholtz and Munashe Madoda.

At least 137 professional golfers from different tours around the world have entered to play at the Golden Pilsener Zimbabwe Open.

The golfers will be battling for a piece of the 1.8 million rand winners’ purse.

Since 2001, the event has been dominated by South African golfers.

Last year, junior golfers Kieran Vincent and David Amm impressed.

The duo are part of the five exempted players from Zimbabwe Golf Association with Tanaka Mhere, John Milanzi and Tonderai Masunga being the others.

Royal Harare general manager, Ian Mathieson, said the course was in superb condition and ready for the prestigious event.

“We are prepared to host the event and it is an honour to host the event again this year,” said Mathieson.

“We have been preparing for the event for a while and I believe the players will once again experience the course at its very best.

“The course staff starts work at 3am during the four official days of play.”

The qualifiers will for the first time be held at Royal Harare as the last five editions were held at Chapman Golf Club.