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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Sports Reporter
A TOTAL of 38 professional golfers have so far registered to compete in the Hwange Open Golf championship that tees off tomorrow and ends on Sunday. Defending champion Brian Gondo will face stiff competition from Phillip Tshuma, Nyasha Muyambo, Tongo Charamba and Ignatius Mketekete who are part of the strong field.

The annual event will start with the Pro-Ams tomorrow with the championship being played over the next three days in what promises to be an exciting four days of golf at the Colliery.

The Pro-Ams will use the individual stableford format while for the championship, it will be medal play.
Hwange Golf Club chairman, Victor Rakabopa said preparations were going on very well with the greens in good condition.

Last year there were some grumblings about the state of the 18-hole course.
“It’s all going on well at the moment, we are preparing very well and we want to make it every player’s memorable tournament,” said Rakabopa.

He said they were expecting a total of 70 amateur golfers whose participation has also been excited by the possibility of playing in the Windhoek Lager Africa Golf Championship.

“Obviously for amateur golfers who are trying to break into the professional circuit, Hwange becomes the place to be as they will get points that could see them playing in Namibia, it’s really an exciting opportunity for them,” said the chairman.

Winners from the amateurs will be joined by representatives from Botswana, Zambia, South Africa and the hosts Namibia.
Rakabopa thanked various companies that chipped in with sponsorship among them leading mining equipment supplier Chaferfly whose managing director Godfrey Nyakudya is already in Hwange, Portnex, Table Mining, Colbro and Care Insurance.