Zimbabwean professional golfers Brendan de Jonge and Bruce McDonald made a good start to finish the second round in a nine-way tie for 10th at the 2011 Omega Mission Hills Golf World Cup at Mission Hills Resort in Hainan Island, China, yesterday.
The United States-based pair are both making their debuts as the prestigious 28-team which teed off on Thursday and runs until Sunday with the winners picking up £1,5m.
De Jonge and McDonald finished yesterday’s foursomes play on eight-under-par 136 together with South Africa, hosts China, France, Germany, defending champions Italy, Japan, Thailand and Wales.
The Zimbabwean pair began yesterday’s second round well with two birdies in the first four rounds although they had two consecutive bogeys at the par four 10th and the par three 11th.
They, however, recovered with consecutive birdies over the next two holes before holding for par in the final five holes to sign for a two under-par 70 to add to their impressive six under par 66 on the opening day on Thursday.
Zimbabwe are five shots behind joint leaders Australia and Ireland who are both on 13-under par 131. De Jonge and McDonald earned the right to represent the country at the biannual tournament on the basis of positions on the Official World Golf Rankings.
The burly De Jonge is the only Zimbabwean playing on the prestigious US PGA Tour and is currently the highest ranked local player on the Official World Golf Rankings on number 126.
McDonald on the other hand has been on top of his game and could be playing on the prestigious European Tour next season if he earns his Tour card from the qualifying school.
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Zimbabwe is among 18 countries that have automatic qualification at the 28-team tourney.
During the golden era of local golf — due to the exploits of former world number one Nick Price, Tony Johnstone and Mark McNulty — Zimbabwe were twice runners-up in 1993 and 1994 behind the US.
McNulty, who took up Irish citizenship in 2003 at the age of 50, is now playing on the Champions Tour together with Price and Johnstone.
First played in 1953, this year will be the 56th edition of the World Cup with the US holding the record for most number of victories with 23 wins.
In 2009, the last staging, it was the Italian brothers of Edoardo and Francesco Molinari who claimed victory at Mission Hills Golf Club.
The Omega Mission Hills Golf World Cup is a 72-hole stroke play team event with each team consisting of two players.
The first and third days are four-ball (best-ball) play and the second and final days are foursomes play.
