BY DANIEL NHAKANISO MUTARE-BASED top junior golfer Braydon Amm has made history by becoming the youngest player to qualify for the FBC Zimbabwe Open Golf Championship after booking his ticket during the pre-qualifier played at Chapman Golf Club on Monday.
The 14-year-old, who plays out of Hillside Golf Club, carded a one-over par round of 73 to finish tied for second position on the leaderboard behind Ruwa Country Club professional, Howard Bauti, who finished on level par 72.
The top 15 players on the leaderboard in a field of 80 hopefuls qualified for the Open, which tees off at Royal Harare Golf Club and Chapman Golf Club tomorrow.
Also, among the qualifiers was the Canada-based former Zimbabwe national cricket team fast bowler Keegan Meth, who carded 81.
However, the spotlight was on young Braydon after the qualifier played in tough conditions at the challenging Chapman layout.
Braydon’s qualification barely four months after turning 14, which means he broke his brother David’s record to become the youngest player to qualify for the Zimbabwe Open.
David wrote his piece of history in 2014 when was Zimbabwe’s youngest ever participant at the Open.
David has now risen to become one of the country’s leading amateur golfers and is based in the United States, where he recently graduated from the University of Toledo.
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He is set to have another season on the US collegiate circuit at Florida State University, where he will work towards an MBA while playing one last year of college golf.
His younger brother hopes to follow in his footsteps in the future after breaking one of his records.
“It feels exciting to have qualified for the FBC Zim Open. I wasn’t expecting to qualify when I teed off but I’m happy I was able to play well. Now my target is to make it past the two rounds,” Braydon, who plays off a handicap of +1, told NewsDay Sport in an interview.
“I didn’t realise I had broken my brother’s record and it’s amazing because he is my biggest inspiration. My main goal is to also go to the US on a golf scholarship like he did. I want to play college golf while doing my studies there and hopefully turn professional in the future.”
Braydon will tomorrow tee off alongside some of the leading players on the Sunshine Tour, who make up the field for the FBC Zim Open.
A field of 160 professionals and qualifying amateurs will compete in the R2 million tournament with 80 players playing at Chapman Golf Club and another 80 players at Royal Harare Golf Club on Thursday.
On Friday, the players will switch with those that played the opening round at Chapman moving to Royal and vice versa.
After the opening two rounds the players that make the cut, the top 60 and ties will fight it out for the coveted title at Royal Harare Golf Club.
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