Local stars ready to reclaim FBC Zim Open

By Munyaradzi Madzokere | May 7, 2026 | 4 Min read

THE wait has been long — excruciatingly so.

For 25 years, the grandest prize in Zimbabwean golf has been spirited away across borders, nestled in the luggage of South African giants and, most recently, a Mexican marauder.

But as the sun rises over the pristine fairways of Royal Harare Golf Club this morning, there is a growing sense that the drought that began in 2001 is about to be quenched.

The 2026 FBC Zimbabwe Open Championship officially tees off today, and the air is thick with more than just the morning mist; it is heavy with the scent of a homegrown revolution.

With a staggering US$200 000 (R3 million) prize fund provided by title sponsors FBC Holdings — marking their landmark fifth year at the helm — a world-class field of 144 golfers has descended upon the capital. Yet, despite the international flavour of the entry list, the spotlight is firmly fixed on a local vanguard determined to keep the trophy on Zimbabwean soil.

Leading the charge is the nation’s golden boy, Kieran Vincent. Currently tearing up the Asian Tour and fresh off a clinical performance in Singapore, Vincent is the statistical powerhouse Zimbabwe has been craving.

With two Sunshine Tour victories under his belt—the 2024 Kit Kat Cash & Carry Pro-Am and the 2025 Waterfall City Tournament of Champions—he carries the winning pedigree needed to handle tournament pressure.

"Yeah, I think it's hard to put into words," Vincent said, reflecting on the homecoming. "It's obviously always really, really cool to be back in Zimbabwe, and obviously playing your National Open is just a cherry on top. So, super excited and just thankful to be here."

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Vincent isn't just here to participate; he is here to conquer. "I mean, I think everyone wants to win. That's just the realism of teeing it up every week. You want to do the best you can, and I think wins are obviously, as a golfer, that's kind of your target. So, I think that is definitely the goal."

He believes the current crop of Zimbabweans is the strongest in a generation. "I think this is probably the best squad we've had in probably a very, very long time. So, I think it'll be, this is probably going to be the year. There are a lot of guys that are in peak form, like people like Stuart [Krog], obviously, like Visitor [Mapwanya], guys like Robson [Chinhoi]. It’s going to be an exciting week. I think there's going to be a lot of Zimbabweans who not only make the cut, but put themselves in good contention coming down Sunday.

If Vincent is the spearhead, Robson Chinhoi is the sharpened edge. Last year, Chinhoi was the top-performing local, tying for seventh. He enters the 2026 edition in frightening form, having recently obliterated a field in Gabon by 14 strokes.

"I am ready, and I think everyone is ready," Chinhoi declared with quiet confidence. "We are looking forward to a local golfer winning the event, so our expectations for the weekend are for the trophy to stay at home. From last year and coming into this year, I feel more ready, I feel happy, and I look forward to seeing it happen."

Adding to the local firepower is Stuart Krog, another Sunshine Tour regular who feels the unique energy of Royal Harare.

"I feel excited. It's a bit of a different feel this year, and the course is playing differently," Krog noted. "It's the first tournament of the Sunshine Tour, but we had a tournament two weeks ago, which took the rust off, so I feel more ready. Every year is special coming back to play here at home with all the support and fans, so just being home is a bonus."

The history books have been unkind to the hosts. Not since the legendary Mark McNulty in 2001 has a Zimbabwean hoisted the trophy. Since the tournament’s 2011 reintroduction, it has been a South African monologue, briefly interrupted last year by Mexico’s Luis Carrera, who returns this week to defend his crown.

Zimbabwe’s closest brush with destiny came in 2024, when Scott Vincent finished third, agonisingly close to the summit. This year, the depth is deeper. Beyond the favorites, the likes of Visitor Mapwanya, David Amm, Tafadzwa Nyamukondiwa, and Darlington Chikanyambidze represent a formidable Zim contingent capable of an upset.

Supported by associate sponsors Caledonia Mining Corporation and anchor partners Golden Pilsener and Tongaat Hulett, the 2026 FBC Zimbabwe Open is more than a tournament; it is a destiny waiting to be claimed.

Today, 144 men begin the walk. But for a nation that has waited 25 years, only one result will suffice. The stage is set. The prize is rich. And the locals are ready.