NATIONAL team player Tonderai Masunga held on to win the Julius Robinson Trophy title at Wingate Park Golf Club on Sunday despite closing with a two-over 74 to storm to the top of the Zimbabwe Golf Association (ZGA) Order of Merit standings.
BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
Masunga started the final round of the 36-hole tournament with a three-shot lead over the duo of Jack Allard and Thembelani Vundla after opening his campaign with a flawless 68 on Saturday. However, neither Allard nor Vundla were unable to mount a serious challenge on the final day as Masunga held on for his first victory of the season at one-under par 143.
With the win Masunga, who captained the national team to victory at the inaugural Africa Golf Confederation President’s Cup in Zambia last year is now a favourite to book a spot in the Zimbabwe team for the Zone VI Golf Championships set for April in Uganda.
The 18-year-old Allard, a student at Falcon College in Esigodini settled for second position on level par 144 after carding rounds of 71 and 73 while Stuart Krog finished third on three-over par 147.
Vundla, who closed with a 77 having opened with a solid 71, finished five shots off the pace on four-over par 148 while David Du Preez was in fifth position on five-over par 149 after rounds of 74 and 75.
Pride Sembo and Sechnmore Saoneka were tied for sixth position, with the former posting rounds identical rounds of 75, while the latter had rounds of 77 and 73.
A strong field of 91 golfers took part in the annual Julius Robinson Trophy which was the second tournament on the ZGA calender after the Dugmore Trophy which was won by US-based top amateur Scott Vincent. Meanwhile, US-based Zimbabwean professional golfer Brendon de Jonge faded after a strong yet again after an impressive start to finish in a tie for position 27 at the Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego at the weekend.
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The burly Zimbabwean got off to a hot start after a superb 67 in the first round but could not challenge for the title after managing further rounds of 72, 73 and 74 in the last three rounds for a total of two-under par 286.
De Jonge however still walked away with $44 730 to take his season’s earnings to $785 185 from eight tournaments.
