IT was another tough day for local golfers as they faltered on the penultimate day of the 2022 FBC Zimbabwe Open.
Nyasha Muyambo and Ryan Cairns, tied on position 17 at one over, were the best-placed locals at the close of play today.
Local golf enthusiasts will have to wait another year for a local winner since 2000 when Mark McNulty won the Zimbabwe Open.
This year’s format of playing over two courses, Chapman and Royal Harare, proved to be difficult for most local professional golfers whilst the seasoned professionals from other countries found a way to remain in contention.
Ironically, on the day that Zimbabweans were struggling at home, Scott Vincent’s rounds of 65-64-66 meant he is going into Sunday’s final day of the Japan Gold Partner Pro-Am tournament trailing the leader Otsuki Tomoharu by five shots.
How badly did Zimbabwe need Vincent in their quest to get a local champion in over two decades?
Cairns, who ended the second day as the best-placed Zimbabwean on day two, had a nightmarish day as he carded four-over-par 76 to end the day on one over for the tournament.
15-year-old Zimbabwe amateur Keegan Shutt also carded a four-over-par 76 to end the day tied in position 42. However, in the bigger scheme of things, making the cut at the FBC Zimbabwe Open is no mean feat as the young golfer has learnt a lot that will put him in good stead when he eventually turns professional.
However, the overnight leader of the tournament, Luca Filippi’s aggressive play, came back to haunt him today on the back nine as he had two double bogeys, four bogeys and a birdie to leave him with a one-shot lead going into the final day.
Probably the exuberance of youth got the better of the 23-year-old South African. Instead of maintaining at least his five shots lead, he tried to go for the jugular and run away with it. It, however, backfired and opened up the tournament for the chasing pack.
Wynand Dingle is breathing down Filippi’s neck after firing an excellent four-under-par 68 to stay one shot within touching distance of his fellow countryman.
Zambia’s Madalitso Muthiya wants to spoil the party as he is the only non-South African in the top five going into tomorrow’s final round, four strokes behind Filippi.
