THE Golden Pilsener Zim Open golf teed-off yesterday at Royal Harare Golf Club amid expectations of an exciting and highly competitive tournament.
A number of sponsors are bankrolling the flagship golf tournament.
Zimplats, MBCA, Tongaat Huletts, Jaguar Landrover, Liquid Telecomm, Schweppes, Ethos, Truworths Man and Speedlink Cargo among others are supporting the event.
This year’s winner’s purse has been increased from R1,6 million to R1,8 million.
“Delta Beverages is proud to announce that Golden Pilsener will be the title Sponsor for the 2014 Zimbabwe Open. This year marks the third year that Golden Pilsener sponsors this prestigious event and entrenches the commitment that Delta Beverages continually demonstrates in uplifting local sport as well as restoring the glorious image of Zimbabwe through this internationally acclaimed tournament.
“Golden Pilsener, as Zimbabwe’s number one premium beer brand, has always had a very strong association with Golf and 2014 will be no different as the brand will underwrite the cost of staging the Golden Pilsener Zimbabwean Open, which is set to be a world class event that will expose our nation to legendary golf,” said the sponsors in a statement.
South Africans have dominated the tournament since 2010.
The last Zimbabwean to win the Zim Open was Mark McNulty in 2000.
Previous winners of Zim Open
Golden Pilsener Zimbabwe Open
2013 Royal Harare Golf Club South Africa Jake Roos 274 (−14}
2012 Royal Harare Golf Club South Africa Chris Swanepoel 273 (−15) PO
Africom Zimbabwe Open
2011 Royal Harare Golf Club South Africa Theunis Spangenberg 201 (−15)^
2010 Royal Harare Golf Club South Africa Jbe’ Kruger 269 (−19)
2002–09 No tournament
CABS Old Mutual Zimbabwe Open
2001 Chapman Golf Club South Africa Darren Fichardt 275 (−13)
2000 Royal Harare Golf Club Zimbabwe Mark McNulty 269 (−19)
Zimbabwe Open
1999 Chapman Golf Club South Africa Jean Hugo 271 (−17)
1998 Royal Harare Golf Club Zimbabwe Nick Price 271 (−17)
1997 Chapman Golf Club Zimbabwe Nick Price 269 (−19)
1996 Chapman Golf Club Zimbabwe Mark McNulty 270 (−18)
1995 Royal Harare Golf Club Zimbabwe Nick Price 266 (−22)
1994 Royal Harare Golf Club England Chris Williams 272 (−16)PO
1993 Chapman Golf Club Zimbabwe Tony Johnstone 273 (−15)
1992 Royal Harare Golf Club Zimbabwe Mark McNulty 272 (−16)
1991 Chapman Golf Club England Keith Waters 282 (−6)PO
1990 Chapman Golf Club England Grant Turner
1989 Chapman Golf Club Fiji Vijay Singh 282 (−6)
1988 Chapman Golf Club England Roger Chapman 275 (−6)*
1987 Royal Harare Golf Club England Gordon J. Brand 277 (−11)PO
1986 England Stephen Bennett
1985 Chapman Golf Club England Malcolm MacKenzie 281 (−7)
1984 Royal Harare Golf Club Zimbabwe Anderson Rusike (am)