eBusiness Weekly
Mugove Chigada
The signs were showing towards the end of last year. Scott Vincent’s strong showing in a number of tournaments towards end of year, and his recent fourth place at the BMW South Africa Open has made him such a force.
He shared the fourth position with South Africans, Jacques Kruyswijk and Jacques Blaauw at BMW SA Open. And for now we can dream that when the Zimbabwe Open finally kicks off, there is hope a Zimbabwean player can win it.
That Vincent moved to position nine of the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit after his Glendower Golf Club exploits, is reason to believe. Mark Williams, another golfer Zimbabwe can count on, managed to finish 20th at the same tournament and is now ranked 34th.
Vincent pocketed R629 000 while Williams got R157 909 at the same tournament, efforts that ensured that the two, the only Zimbabweans ranked in the top 100, remained significant.
England’s Chris Paisley won the tournament at the end. It was South African Brendan Grace that gave Paisley some nerves but victory was inevitable. But perhaps in our context, it is the close contest between Vincent and Zimbabwe Open champion, South African JC Ritchie, which should excite us.
Ritchie was third and the two shots difference is reason to be hopeful that this year we can be a real force on home soil. Champion Paisley was forced to admit it was more than just a “stroll”, highlighting how Vincent and the South Africans, had pushed him to the limit.
“I didn’t think I was capable of playing that well in that scenario. Just to go out and play that solid is amazing,” he was quoted as saying by the Sunshine Tour.
The fact that Paisley was going against the grain, playing under the pressure as the crowd wanted a South African to win the tournament on home soil, understandably so, meant it was the same conditions Vincent had to face.
“They were obviously a lot louder for his (Grace) good shots but that’s obviously understandable. I loved it. And as it became clear to them that I was going to win, they became very supportive, and I really appreciated it. And the reception they gave me as I walked up the 18th is something that I want to experience every time I play.”
Likewise, Vincent achieved fourth against all odds. Golf enthusiasts await his home coming, soon!
Feedback: Email — [email protected]. Twitter — @mugovechigada
