THE stage is set for the much anticipated Bata Open, an annual event which takes place at Gweru Golf Club on Saturday.
Over 100 top amateur golfers from the country are expected to tee off in the 54-hole tournament that ranks as one of the best in the country.
It will run until Sunday and promises to live up to its billing.
As the build-up continues, the hosting authority, the Midlands Province Golf Union (MPGU) president, Alex Mawere said everything is on course and are expecting a large field as the tournament comes with national and world ranking points, under the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) and the Zimbabwe Golf Association (ZGA).
“Preparations are going well so far, our team is dedicated, everything is going well. “The turnout will be around 120 so we are expecting a very big field but so far, the sponsors Bata have come in with good prizes and are also happy about the tournament itself.
“It’s a serious tournament as it contributes ranking points. Everyone would want to be in the top three or top five in the country and to be selected to represent Zimbabwe in international tournaments. This tournament plays a huge role in that regard,” said Mawere.
Munashe Ndaruza, who has since turned pro, won last year’s edition of the prestigious championship. Some of the top amateur golfers who will be competing for the top honours include 16-year-old Tanaka Chatora, who has shown immense potential to be the next big thing.
Chatora is fresh from winning the 2023 Roland Park Open Golf Championship which was played at Roland Park Golf Club in Zvishavane at the beginning of the month. Some of the amateurs include Lloyd Dube and Innocent Mukumba among others.
In the past, some of the golfers to have won the Bata Open include Clive Nguru, Jack Allard and Tafara Mpofu.
Mawere is expecting a good challenge from the amateur golfers who will take to the greens across the two days.
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