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Amateur golfers bank on Zim Open experience

Sport
NATIONAL amateur golf team captain Christain Mbanga is hopeful the experience some of the players gained during the 2014 Golden Pilsener Zimbabwe Open

NATIONAL amateur golf team captain Christain Mbanga is hopeful the experience some of the players gained during the 2014 Golden Pilsener Zimbabwe Open will come in handy during the Zone VI Golf Tournament in Cape Town, South Africa, this week.

BY DANIEL NHAKANISO SPORTS REPORTER

A strong eight-member team arrived in South Africa on Sunday evening ahead of Africa’s flagship team event which tees off this morning at the Devonvale Golf Estate in Cape Town.

Mbanga was one of the five players from the eight member national team who an opportunity to play alongside the professionals during the country’s flagship golf tournament together with Stuart Krog, Jack Allard, Clive Nguru, and Christain Mbanga and Thembelani Vundla.

Renco Mine based Visitor Mapwanya, Tonderayi Masunga and Pride Sembo are also part of the team which will be coached by Roger Bailey while Mufaro Chivonivoni will be the team manager.

Although none of the amateurs managed to make the cut except for US-based Scott Vincent who is not part of the team, Mbanga said the exposure provided them with an opportunity to work on their game before the Zone VI tournament.

“The Zimbabwe Open was an experience that was absolutely priceless. We played against some really amazing players and we were able to gauge our game. The conditions were really tough the first couple of days and some of our guys struggled. Hopefully we will be able to take that experience down to Cape Town,” he said.

The Chapman Golf club player said they had a good squad capable of challenging powerhouses South Africa.

“We’ve got a strong team this year, one of the strongest we’ve had in a long time. Last year we also had a really good side came a close second to South Africa losing by 2 and a half points. I’m hoping we do better this year we are hoping to do better and if everything goes as we are expecting we should be challenging for honours again.”