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Kruger seeks to defend Zim Open

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DEFENDING champion Jbe' Kruger headlines the star-studded entry list for this year’s edition of the country’s flagship golf championship, the Golden Pilsener Zimbabwe Open, which tees off on April 9 at Royal Harare Golf Club.

DEFENDING champion Jbe’ Kruger headlines the star-studded entry list for this year’s edition of the country’s flagship golf championship, the Golden Pilsener Zimbabwe Open, which tees off on April 9 at Royal Harare Golf Club. BY DANIEL NHAKANISO

The Sunshine Tour will have 114 slots for the tournament with Zimbabwe allocated 20 spots through the Zambezi Tour and the top five amateurs on the Zimbabwe Golf Association Order of Merit Standings.

The rest of the players will qualify via the 18 hole pre-qualifier and tournament invites. The pre-qualifying tournament will be held on April 6 at Royal Harare Golf Club with eight slots on offer for the professionals and all amateurs with a six handicap and below.

Zimbabwe Open Golf Committee secretary and tournament director Michael Mahachi said they were happy with the overwhelming response to the tournament.

“The entries on the Sunshine Tour closed on Friday and there are some top names like Jbe’ (Kruger), he loves this event and will be coming to defend his title,” Mahachi said.

“We also have another top player in Danie van Tonder. He won the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit last year and played in the World Golf Championships (WGC) Cadillac Championship two weeks ago.

Mahachi also confirmed that South Africa’s Trevor Fisher Jnr would not feature in this year’s competition after earning his European Tour card after victory at the Africa Open.

“Unfortunately Trevor Fisher Jnr is not coming this year, he got intouch to say the Zimbabwe Open was one of his favourite events but he would not be able to come this year because of a busy schedule.

“The Sunshine Tour and the players regard the Zimbabwe Open as one of their best events on the tour and this makes us very proud to continue working hard to preserve this event,” he said. Meanwhile local professional golfer and the five qualifying amateurs will have a final opportunity to prepare for next month’s Golden Pilsener Zimbabwe Open when they take part in the Pre-Open Classic set for Royal Harare Club on Wednesday and Thursday.