SOUTH AFRICAN Jbe’ Kruger says he will motivated by the prospect of carving his name in the history books by winning a third Golden Pilsener Zimbabwe Open title when he tees it up in this year’s edition of the prestigious golf tournament at Royal Harare Golf Club this morning.
BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
The 28-year-old Kimberley-born golfer has taken part in the Zimbabwe Open three times, winning the coveted title twice, in 2010 and last year, and finishing tied for fourth in 2011.
A win at this year’s event would see him join Zimbabwean legends Nick Price and Mark McNulty as the only players who have won the Zimbabwe Open title three times.
Golf Hall of Famer Price, a former world number one and, Price, won his four Zimbabwe Open titles in a space of four years in 1995, 1997 and 1898.
McNulty, who was one of the leading players on the European Tour from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s is also one of the most successful players in the history of the tournament with his titles coming in 1992, 1996 and the year 2000.
The Bindura-born golfer, who has since taken up Irish citizenship, remains the last local player to lift the Zimbabwe Open.
“I think it would be an enormous achievement,” Kruger told reporters at Royal Harare Golf Club yesterday ahead of his title defence.
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“If I manage it would be a big honour to be an elite group like that. They (Nick Price and Mark McNulty) were two of the best players in the world. It would be amazing,” he said.
The Serengeti Golf Estate-based golfer was full of praise for the picturesque Royal Harare course layout and the condition of the greens, describing it as a “place of miracles” for him.
“This has always been a place of miracles for me so I’m really looking forward to playing here again. The whole course suits my play especially the greens which are always good. If you are hitting it well here you are always going to make birdies.
“My season has not been great. I’ve not had a great season this year but as you know it’s been like that in the past and then I arrive here. So it might be a big turnaround again this year, you never know,” he said with a chuckle.
Meanwhile Kruger will be paired with recently crowned Investec Cup champion Jaco Ahlers and Justin Harding for the first two rounds of the Golden Pilsener Zimbabwe Open which tees off on the same day as the year’s first major, The Masters.
In other groupings, Zimbabwean hopeful Tongo Charamba will set off with South Africans Shaun Smith and Peter Karmis (RSA) while the youngest player in the field, 15 year-old David Amm has been paired with South Africans Jack Kutumane and Bryn Flanagan.
South Africa-based Mark Williams, aiming to become the first Zimbabwe Open home winner in 15 years, will launch his campaign in the company of Zambia’s top golfer Madalitso Muthiya and South Africa’s Daniel Greene.
A strong field of 156 players, including 33 Zimbabweans will feature in the R1, 8 million Sunshine Tour co-sanctioned tournament which runs until Sunday at the 116-year-old Royal Harare Golf Club. Previous Zimbabwe Open Winners 1984-Anderson Rusike (Zimbabwe), 1985-Malcolm Mackenzie (England), 1986-Stephen Bennett (England), 1987-Gordon Brand (England), 1988- Roger Chapman (England), 1989-Vijay Singh (Fiji), 1990- Grant Turner (England), 1991-Keith Waters (England), 1992-Mark McNulty (Zimbabwe), 1993-Tony Johnstone (Zimbabwe), 1994- Chris Williams (England), 1995- Nick Price (Zimbabwe), 1996-Mark McNulty (Zimbabwe), 1997-Nick Price (Zimbabwe), 1998-Nick Price (Zimbabwe), 1999-Jean Hugo (SA), 2000-Mark McNulty (Zimbabwe), 2001-Darren Fichardt (SA), 2002–09 (No tournament), 2010 – Jbe’ Kruger (South Africa), 2011 – Theunis Spangenberg (South Africa) 2012 – Chris Swanepoel (South Africa), 2013-Jake Roos (South Africa),2014 — Jbe’ Kruger (South Africa)
