eBusiness Weekly
Chipo Sabeta
The Old Mutual Zimbabwe Open Golf Tournament 2018 enters its second day at its traditional home, Royal Sports Club. The ninth edition of the Zimbabwe Open Golf Tourney has been bankrolled to an improved R2 million prize kitty from last edition’s R1, 8 million. A total of 23 Zimbabwean professional golfers and seven qualifying amateurs are jostling for bragging rights among the 156 men who have been battling the field for a title since yesterday.
The tournament will run until April 22.
In an interview with Business Weekly, tourney main sponsors Old Mutual group marketing executive Matilda Nyathi said they were proud to be associated with the richest golf tourney which they sponsored through one of their subsidiaries, CABS.
“It’s the biggest thing on the Zimbabwe golfing calendar and we are excited to come in as the main sponsor, after providing the biggest financial outlay for this tournament. We also appreciate other sponsors who joined hands with us,” she said.
“We are keen that the tourney which will showcase world class golf in the country and also inspire young upcoming golfers to aspire for the highest level of playing standards.
The 2018 accredited Old Mutual Zimbabwe Open started off with a pre-tournament qualifier on Monday which attracted 60 countries.
They contested over 18 holes with a total of eight slots at stake for those hoping to make it into the 156-men field.
The pre-qualifying tournament also involved local professionals who were not among the 14 automatic entries from the Zimbabwe Professional Golfers’ Association circuit.
Past winners include the Ryder Cup player Gordon Brand, Mark McNulty and the most successful players Vikay Singy and Nick Price who both have recorded three victories from the event.
Since 2010, South Africans have dominated the event maintaining a perfect record.
Kimberly-born Kruger won the Zimbabwe Open twice in 2010 and in 2014, while Theunis Spangenberg, Chris Swanepoel and Jake Roos won the tourney in 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively.
The last local to win the Zimbabwe Open was Mark McNulty back in 2000. Hopes are high a local golfer will finally break the 17-year jinx by Sunday.
