Zimbabwe Open

The Zimbabwe Open is a professional golf tournament held in Zimbabwe.

Old Mutual Zimbabwe Open
Tournament information
LocationHarare, Zimbabwe
Established1984
Course(s)Royal Harare Golf Club
Par72
Length7,337 yards (6,709 m)
Tour(s)Sunshine Tour
Challenge Tour
Safari Circuit
FormatStroke play
Prize fundR2,000,000
Month playedApril
Tournament record score
Aggregate266 Nick Price (1995)
To par−22 as above
Final champion
Bryce Easton
Location Map
Royal Harare GC
Location in Zimbabwe

History

The tournament was first played in 1984 and from 1985 to 1992 was part of the Safari Circuit, a collection of events in Africa that were played by professionals based on the European Tour during their winter. In 1991 and 1992 the event was also part of the Challenge Tour. From 1993 it moved onto the First National Bank Tour, which was later renamed the Sunshine Tour.

When it was held in the weeks preceding the Nedbank Golf Challenge, the tournament attracted some of the world's leading players, as they used it as a warm up to the big money invitational. Past winners include major winners Vijay Singh and Nick Price who, along with Mark McNulty, is the most successful player at the event, both men having recorded three victories. Ryder Cup player Gordon J. Brand is also a past winner.

Due to economic instability in Zimbabwe the tournament lost sponsors and was cancelled prior to the 2002 event. There were many attempts to resurrect the tournament, but none were successful until 2010.[1][2][3] The 2019 edition was also cancelled because of a lack of sponsors caused by a weak economy.[4]

Having not been played in 2019, 2020 and 2021, it returned in 2022, sponsored by FBC Bank.[5] It is anticipated that the event will be added to the European Tour schedule in 2023.[6]

Winners
YearTour[lower-alpha 1]WinnerScoreTo parMargin of
victory		Runner(s)-upVenueRef.
Zimbabwe Open
2020AFRNo tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2019AFRCancelled due to lack of funding
Old Mutual Zimbabwe Open
2018AFR Bryce Easton272−161 stroke Daniel van TonderRoyal Harare
Zimbabwe Open
2017AFR J. C. Ritchie272−16Playoff Trevor Fisher JnrRoyal Harare
Golden Pilsener Zimbabwe Open
2016AFR Lyle Rowe277−112 strokes Dylan FrittelliRoyal Harare
2015AFR Dean Burmester272−161 stroke Adilson da SilvaRoyal Harare
2014AFR Jbe' Kruger270−181 stroke Jacques BlaauwRoyal Harare
2013AFR Jake Roos274−141 stroke Darren Fichardt
Francesco Laporta		Royal Harare
2012AFR Chris Swanepoel273−15Playoff Trevor Fisher JnrRoyal Harare
Africom Zimbabwe Open
2011AFR Theunis Spangenberg201[lower-alpha 2]−152 strokes Matthew CarvellRoyal Harare
2010AFR Jbe' Kruger269−192 strokes Jaco van ZylRoyal Harare
2002–2009: No tournament
CABS/Old Mutual Zimbabwe Open
2001AFR Darren Fichardt275−133 strokes Mark Murless
Bradford Vaughan		Chapman
2000AFR Mark McNulty (3)269−191 stroke Jean HugoRoyal Harare
Zimbabwe Open
1999AFR Jean Hugo271−172 strokes Ulrich van den BergChapman
1998AFR Nick Price (3)271−175 strokes Tjaart van der WaltRoyal Harare
1997AFR Nick Price (2)269−192 strokes Mark McNulty
Brenden Pappas		Chapman
1996AFR Mark McNulty (2)270−184 strokes Justin Hobday
Nick Price		Chapman
1995AFR Nick Price266−221 stroke Brenden PappasRoyal Harare
1994AFR Chris Williams272−16Playoff Andrew PittsRoyal Harare
1993AFR Tony Johnstone273−158 strokes Nic Henning
James Kingston		Chapman
1992CHA Mark McNulty272−169 strokes Tony JohnstoneRoyal Harare[7]
1991CHA Keith Waters282−6Playoff Nick Price
Grant Turner		Chapman[8]
1990SAF Grant Turner281−71 stroke Lee JonesChapman[9]
1989SAF Vijay Singh282−62 strokes Mark MoulandChapman[10]
1988SAF Roger Chapman275[lower-alpha 3]−61 stroke Vijay SinghChapman[11][12]
1987SAF Gordon J. Brand277−11Playoff Andrew MurrayRoyal Harare[13]
1986SAF Stephen Bennett277−112 strokes Stuart ReeseRoyal Harare[14]
1985SAF Malcolm MacKenzie281−73 strokes David LlewellynChapman[15]
1984 Anderson Rusike (a)Royal Harare
  1. AFR − Sunshine Tour; CHA − Challenge Tour; SAF − Safari Circuit.
  2. Shortened to 54 holes due to weather.
  3. Two holes were unplayable on day one.

References
  1. "Zimbabwe Open to bounce back". Zimbabwe Independent. 30 July 2004. Archived from the original on 22 January 2009. Retrieved 4 December 2008.
  2. "Zim Open hits a bunker". Zimbabwe Standard. 13 June 2005. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  3. "Zimbabwe Open to bounce back". Zimbabwe Herald. 10 October 2009. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  4. "Financiers pull plug on Zim Open". 25 July 2019.
  5. "FBC Sponsors 2022 Zimbabwe Open Golf Tournament". FBC Bank Limited. 14 April 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  6. "Zim Open set to earn DP World Tour status". Zimbabwe Independant. 14 April 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  7. "Zim golfers stage big win" (PDF). The Namibian. 16 January 1992. p. 11.
  8. "Scunthorpe's Waters on the crest of a wave". The Guardian. 14 January 1991. p. 15.
  9. "England's Grant Turner". The Glasgow Herald. 15 January 1990. p. 19.
  10. "In Harare, Zimbabwe". The Sydney Morning Herald. 31 January 1989. p. 41.
  11. "Roger Chapman". The Glasgow Herald. 22 February 1988. p. 10.
  12. "Richard Fish". The Glasgow Herald. 19 February 1988. p. 39.
  13. "Tournament favourite". The Glasgow Herald. 23 February 1987. p. 10.
  14. "Zimbabwe Open goes to Bennett by two strokes". The Glasgow Herald. 24 March 1986. p. 13.
  15. "Mackenzie hooks his way to victory". The Glasgow Herald. 1 April 1985. p. 13.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.