The Sunday News
Simba Jemwa at Royal Harare Golf Club, Harare
LOCAL pros participating at the R2 million FBC Zimbabwe Golf Open struggled with the course at Royal Harare Golf Club and effectively dropped out of contention for the top prize.
A total of 14 Zimbabweans including two amateurs made the cut for the third round and all have floundered against the South African onslaught led by Luis Filippo who by yesterday was holding a one stroke lead over his second-placed countryman, Wynand Dingle.
Ryan Cairns and Nyasha Muyambo are the best placed locals and are tied for 17th place after both carding one-over 73 after 18 holes. The duo is 12 shots behind the tournament leader and with the way they struggled with the windy course, an improvement in the final round today is unlikely.
Cairns’ game was undone by six bogeys and he only managed two birdies on the par four 4th and 8th holes to finish the round four-over 76 12 shots behind Filippo. Muyambo fared much better on the day carding a round of two-over 74. He bogeyed the 2nd, 7th and 17th holes managing to hold par on the rest save for the 3rd which he birdied.
Another local, Jack Allard had a hit a third round par score of 74 and is currently 34th on the leader board. His third round par score featured five bogeys and four birdies. Robson Chinoi is one stroke behind Allard having carded a one-over 73. Fifteen year-old Keegan Shutt continues to impress with a third round four-over 76. Though his lack of experience showed, Shutt still managed to end the day as the sixth highest placed local on the leader board.
Nyasha Muyambo
Filippo double bogeyed the 10th and the 18th holes and saw his five shot lead cut down to one shot. The 23-year-old who is still fighting for his first Sunshine Tour victory held a 11-stroke lead going into yesterday’s third round.
Meanwhile, the tournament title sponsors, FBC Holdings said they were happy with the level of competition and were convinced that the event will be success ahead of the Zimbabwe Open’s possible inclusion on the DP World Tour next year.
FBC
“We are very happy with the manner in which golfers have pushed themselves during the tournament. We have no doubt this will be a plus for the tournament’s possible inclusion as part of DP World Tour event next year,” said Roy Nyakunuwa the FBC head of group marketing.
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