ZIMBABWEAN professional golfer, Ryan Cairns has backed local golfers to do well in this year’s edition of the Golden Pilsener Zimbabwe Open, which tees off this morning at the Royal Harare Golf Club.
BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
No local golfer has won the prestigious Zimbabwe Open title since 2000, when Mark McNulty, now a naturalised Irish, lifted the coveted title following a 19-under 269 at Royal Harare.
While Mutare-born Dean Burmester won the coveted title last year, his victory was celebrated more across the border, as he now competes under the South African flag.
With the majority of the 30 local players in the strong field of 156 struggling to acquire sponsorship to compete on the highly-competitive Sunshine Tour, Zimbabweans face a daunting task to eclipse their well-travelled opponents, let alone land the Zimbabwe Open title.
However, despite not having much exposure to high level competitions compared to their South African counterparts, Cairns believes local players can still spring a surprise at this year’s tournament.
“We have equally good players here who can do well at such a high occasion and that was proved by some of the guys who have won some Sunshine Tour,” he told reporters yesterday ahead of today’s tee off.
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“I think it’s not that the South Africans are superior, but it’s a case of numbers and exposure.
We will be having 30 locals and the rest of the field will be South Africans and that sums it all. The other thing is exposure as well. If you compare in the 365 days, they have many competitions, while some of the local guys will only wait for a tournament once in a while,” he said.
“I had a good round on Tuesday during the practice session and I am feeling good. I was playing in South Africa, which gave me an opportunity to fine-tune all my weaknesses and I am ready for the tournament.
“After yesterday’s pro-am, I felt that all is well and I am raring to go. The course is in perfect condition and I enjoyed playing it so I am looking forward to a great week ahead.” Cairns, who plays out of Royal Harare Golf Club, is one of the four Zimbabwean golfers with victories on the South African professional circuit together, with Marc Cayeux, Tongo Charamba and Mark Williams.
The 32-year-old golfer won his maiden pro title on the developmental Big Easy Tour at Observatory Golf Club in 2012, before securing his biggest win so far in the Vodacom Origins of Golf at Simola Golf and Country Estate on the Sunshine Tour later that year.
Williams also has a win on the Big Easy Tour, while Charamba boasts of two Sunshine Tour victories, the SAA Pro-Am Invitational in 2006 and the MTC Namibia PGA Championship two years later.
Cayeux is a nine-time winner on the Sunshine Tour and will be making an emotional comeback on the Sunshine Tour for the first time since his career was halted six years ago after suffering serious injuries from a car accident.
United States-based rising professional, Scott Vincent has a win on the Swing Thought Tour (formerly Hooters Tour in the US) and two top five finishes on the Sunshine Tour.
Meanwhile, champion Burmester says he is ready to defend his title following another brilliant start to the 2016 season.
At number 93 in the Official World Golf Ranking, he’s the highest ranked player in the star-studded field and comes to Harare for his title defence after making his PGA Tour debut at the Puerto Rico Open in March, where he finished in a tie for 39th.
Speaking ahead of his title defence, Burmester said he had been working hard to successfully defend the title he won last year.
“The season has gotten off to a solid start so far. I have had some good results at some great course. My win last year in the Zimbabwe Open was the highlight of 2015 for me and I have been hard at work making sure that I’m fully prepared to give my title defence the best shot that I can,” he said.
Burmester, whose mother owns the ladies course record at Royal Harare, scripted an emotion victory in the 2015 Golden Pilsener Zimbabwe Open, after an impressive show which charmed local golf fans.
