Cairns, Allard lead after day one at Harare Classic Open
HARARE – ZIMBABWE professional golfers Ryan Cairns and Jack Allard posted an impressive two-under par 70 on the first round of the inaugural Harare Classic Open.
Ignatius Mketekete, Never Milazi and Zambian Sydney Wemba, returned to the club house, a shot behind on a share of third.
A field of 35 professional golfers is battling for honours in the Harare Classic Open whose total purse prize has been set at US$5,500.
The tournament is being used a dry run to accord local golfers game-time ahead of next month’s Zimbabwe Open.
The Zimbabwe Open – the country’s most prestigious golf tournament on the local golfing calendar – did not take place in the last two years due to Covid-19 restrictions.
FBC Bank is expected to be the flagship sponsor of the Sunshine Tour event which is set to take place in mid-May.
Meanwhile, a new Zimbabwe Professional Golfers Association (ZPGA) executive was elected into office on Tuesday at Chapman Golf Club.
Simon Murungweni, the Royal Harare based pro, has been elected the association’s new president, taking over from Tongo Charamba.
He will be deputised by Ryan Cairns with Loice Chingono coming in as treasurer and Jessie Nyakatawa assuming the role of secretary.
The three committee members are Pride Sembo, Brian Gondo and Emmanuel Hungwe.
Murungweni said the newly elected ZPGA executive will usher in a new era for the sport.
“It’s a great team so we are promising more networking with the corporate world, selling the brand and developing the game,” he said.
