THE Zimbabwe Golf Association (ZGA) has signalled its commitment to youth development by naming a squad of top junior golfers to represent the country at the 2026 Region 5 Golf Championship.
The tournament is scheduled to take place in Eswatini from May 4 to 9.
In a busy week for the sport, the association also confirmed it will field five of its top amateur golfers in the Zim Open, which tees off concurrently from May 7 to 10, 2026.
The ZGA’s decision to send its leading junior prospects to the Region 5 Championship underscores its strategy of long-term player development.
The squad is headlined by Munesu Chimhini, who is in strong form after winning the Zim Junior Open last week. He is joined by Vincent Chidambazina, Nathan Van Rooyen, and Kelvin Muchenje under the guidance of team manager and head of delegation Staline Masiya.
The association believes recent junior success will provide momentum in the quest for the title.
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“The selection of the players was based on merit and current form, and we are convinced that they will represent the country and the association well,” said ZGA president Blessmore Gandawa.
While the juniors compete in Eswatini, Zimbabwe’s leading amateur golfers — Tawana Mangoma, Blessing Gondo, Shepherd Chiwaya, Thomas Sinclair, and Tariro November — will compete in a professional field at the Zim Open.
The players have been granted direct entry into the tournament, bypassing pre-qualifiers in line with Sunshine Tour procedures.
The move aims to integrate the country’s top amateurs into elite competition as part of a national high-performance programme.
“The selected players are all top amateurs on the World Amateur Golf Ranking, and we expect them to compete at that level as they are already seasoned players on our circuit,” Gandawa said.
He added that the tournament presents a key development opportunity.
“It is going to be an exciting time for the players as they get to rub shoulders with professional golfers, gaining invaluable experience that dovetails well with the High-Performance Programme they are in. It is also an opportunity for us to test, measure, and assess our progress in developing golfers into world-class athletes.”