GOLFERS from around the country and beyond tee off in the Hwange Chaferfly Open Golf Tournament at Hwange Golf Club this morning.
REPORT BY SPORTS REPORTER
Defending champion Tongoona Charamba will be out to defend his title in the greens. He is likely to face strong competition from Ignatius Mketekete from Chapman Golf Club and Phillip Tshuma from Bulawayo Golf Club.
By Thursday, 33 professionals were on the entries list in the Chaferfly Enterprises-sponsored golf tournament which will be played over two rounds-36 holes strokeplay ending tomorrow.
Greg Bentley from Borrowdale Brooke, Brian Gondo Bulawayo Golf Club and Robson Saurombe from Chapman are also in together with Emmanuel Hungwe, Jack Rogers and Bernard Magaso.
Foreigners expected to take to the greens are Patrick Mwendapole from Zambia and Thanda Mavundla from South Africa. Zambezi Tour marketing and communications director Tendayi Gwatiringa yesterday confirmed that all was set for the competition.
“The sponsorship package has been moved up to $18 000. The golfers will play separately tomorrow (today) with the professionals leading in the front with the stroke play while the amateurs will play the individual stableford format,” he said. Hwange Golf Club captain Victor Suerga said the tournament would test the players’ strength because of the weather conditions in the coal mining town.
“We are expecting Charamba to defend his title because he is on the list of golfers that are coming into take part in the competition. We also have professionals from Zambia and South Africa. We are also going to have amateurs from South Africa, Botswana and Zambia. “The tournament will test the strength resolve of the players because Hwange is hot but the course is good,” he said.
