YOUNG Zimbabwean golfer Darlington Chikanyambidze is having a dream tournament at the FBC Zimbabwe Open after shooting a second round 3-under-par 69 to make the cut along with four other Zimbabweans at the close of play yesterday.
The 20-year-old golfer is the highest-ranked Zimbabwean in a 10-way tie for 12th place going into the weekend after his first-round 70.
He goes into today's third round six strokes behind the leader from Chile, Tomas Gana, who shot 4-under-par to maintain a two-stroke lead in the tournament.
Also making the cut are another young golfer, Michael Wallace, as well as Kieran Vincent, Visitor Mapwanya, and Robson Chinhoi.
Barely two months into his pro career, Chikanyambidze navigated familiar Royal Harare terrain with the aplomb of a seasoned campaigner, managing six birdies and three bogeys in the second round.
Chikanyambidze is confident that he can go on and win the tournament in the next two rounds.
“Today [yesterday], I was standing quite well. I started hot today. I was having a good round. You know, I made a lot of birdies in the first nine. I made 5 — under bogey free, in the back line, I was a bit slow. I shot two over,” he said.
“For my first time and making the cut, I’m excited. It’s my first sunshine tournament. For the next two rounds, my target so far, if I shoot maybe 10 under two rounds, that would be good for me. I think I can win this tournament because I believe in myself.”
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Also playing in his first tournament as a professional, Wallace managed a round of 72 for a 2-under-par total to ensure he remains in the tournament.
Highly rated Vincent also managed to shoot 2-under-par after carding level par on the first day to also make it into the weekend.
Chinhoi struggled on the second day after a promising 69 in the first round, but he managed to make it through, while Mapwanya quietly made it into the last two rounds after carding 74 and 72 in the first two rounds, respectively.
The story of the tournament so far is that of South African teenage amateur golfer Andries van der Vyver, who shot a brilliant 5-under-par 67 — the best score on the second day — to finish in a tie for second on 9-under-par.
Van der Vyver qualified for the tournament after winning the First Capital Bank Zim Junior Open last year.
He is tied for second with Altin van der Merwe on 9-under-par. South African Jaco Prinsloo is in a two-way tie for fourth along with last year’s runner-up, Austin Bautista from Australia.
