Leading Zimbabwe’s charge, Chinhoi charges with strong 68 despite slow start
HARARE – Mexico’s Luis Carrera surged to a one-shot lead at the halfway mark of the FBC Zim Open on Friday after carding a flawless 66 in the second round to reach 11-under-par at Royal Harare Golf Club.
South Africa’s MJ Viljoen stayed in close pursuit with an error-free 66 of his own to sit one stroke behind at 10-under, while a three-way tie for third sees Hennie Otto, Martin Rohwer and Australia’s Austin Bautista locked on 7-under.
Zimbabwean hopes are alive through Robson Chinhoi who leads the local contingent. Chinhoi sits in a tie for seventh at 5-under after posting rounds of 71 and 68.
Chinhoi climbed into a share of seventh place with a well-constructed second-round 68, moving to five-under-par 139 at the halfway mark, six strokes behind Carrera.
After an uneven start that included a bogey on the opening hole and another dropped shot on the ninth, the Zimbabwean rallied with a sparkling six birdies—most notably a brilliant 2 at the par-3 fifth.
Chinhoi’s back nine was particularly sharp—he played it in four-under 32 without a blemish, picking up shots at 12, 13 and 16. He hit all 14 fairways and found 15 greens in regulation, needing just 30 putts to close the day.
Other Zimbabwean players advancing to the weekend include Visitor Mapwanya at two-under and Ryan Cairns, who is one-under after rounds of 71 and 72. Cairns shares 32nd place on 143 with 10 others, including compatriot Nyasha Muyambo (70-73).
Shaahid Mahmed sits in 42nd place on even-par 144 following rounds of 73 and 71, while Tonderai Masunga narrowly made the cut, finishing tied for 53rd at one-over after rebounding from an opening 75 with a second-round 70. Stuart Krog recovered from an opening 75 with a sparkling 69 to also make the weekend on level-par.
Darlington Chikayambidze missed the cut despite a strong second-round 71.
The tournament, which boasts a R3 million prize fund, continues through the weekend with third and fourth rounds scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.
