Local pros tee off in Universal Sport ZPGA Champs

ZIMBABWE professional golfers will this morning return to the field in the Universal Sport Zimbabwe Professional Golfers Association Championship at Royal Harare.

The players, who are now getting game time as corporates are gaining confidence in the association, will play the practice round this morning ahead of tomorrow’s opening round of the three- day event.

Over 40 professional golfers are expected to take part in the US$ 10 000 purse tournament.

ZPGA president, Simon Murungweni, said they are looking forward to a competitive tournament with registration starting this morning.

“We are going to have the ZPGA Championship in partnership with Universal Sport at Royal Harare starting on Tuesday to Thursday. The tournament will have a US$ 10 000 purse and we are grateful that corporates are now coming on board to support us.

“The three- day tournament will see several local and international professionals taking part. We will have a practice rounds tomorrow morning (today) where will also be conducting registration. The tournament will be played over three rounds and we look forward to over 40 players taking part,” said Murungweni.

The ZPGA Championship, in partnership with Universal Sport, comes barely a month after Chapman Golf Club successfully hosted the Liu Gong Pro-Am.

The tournament will see the rivalry between in- form Visitor Mapwanya, Robson Chinhoi and Nyasha Muyambo, among several others, reignited.

Muyambo is fresh from winning his maiden Safari Tour title after he came out victorious in the second leg of the 2022/23 Safari Tour Series fifth season at Limuru Country Club course in Kenya last Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwean professional golfer Scott Vincent bounced back to make the cut in the Asian Tour’s International Series after he finished tied on position 48 at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Cairo, Egypt, yesterday.

The Zimbabwean was part of the field with his sibling Kieran, who finished on position nine with an impressive nineunder-par 223. Scott had probably his worst opening round position when he was tied on position 53 after day one.

A second round of 69 was enough to see the Zimbabwean make the cut.

However, it was Kieran who had a good day in office after carding 66, 69, 67 and Ben Follet Smith failed to get the opening two rounds.