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Royal Harare…….hosting the season opener

THE Harare Province Golf Union (HPGU) golfing season gets into full swing this weekend with 12 clubs taking part in an expanded “A” and “B” League program that promises fireworks. Royal Harare will host the season-opening “A” League round of fixtures on Sunday 31 January while Ruwa Country Club plays host to the “B” League on the same day.

Norton are the newcomers to the league and will be hoping to make a good first impression on their more seasoned rivals by getting off to a flying start in their match-up against traditional strugglers Mt Pleasant Golf Club. Mount Pleasant too, will be keen to start the season on a positive note by capitalizing on Norton’s relative inexperience in the “big league”.

However, the first match of the season will pit Borrowdale Brooke up against Chapman Golf Club, clubs that finished well off the pace last season. While Chapman have produced a host of the country’s top amateurs, their League teams have been far from dominant and this year could be their chance to redeem themselves and prove they can mount a serious league title challenge.

Defending champions, Wingate Park Golf Club will be up against a dangerous opponent in the form of Warren Hills Golf Club – a team that is as unpredictable as they come. In the other A League fixture, former champions, Falcon Golf Club take on The Country Club of Highlands.

Last year’s A League whipping boys, Police Golf Club, who never really got whipped last year after making a habit of absconding their games, will be looking to show up more often and possibly pick up a few points along the way this time round. They date host club, Royal Harare in their season opener. In the sixth A league fixture, last season’s runners-up Sherwood will be up against Ruwa Country Club in a re-run of the teams’ season-ending clash last November.

In the B League matchday program, champions Country Club of Highlands begin the defence of their title against Sherwood who finished seventh last season while hosts Ruwa Country Club clash with Borrowdale Brooke. Wingate Golf Club is up against neighbours Mt Pleasant Golf Club who propped up the B League last season and are looking to be more competitive this year.

B League newboys, Norton Country Club face a baptism of fire against the vastly experienced foxes of Falcon Golf Club who only missed out on the B League title by two points last term. However, the highlight of the B league program will almost certainly be the clash between cross-town rivals Chapman Golf Club and Royal Harare Golf Club – a match that is essentially the golf equivalent of local football’s famed “Harare Derby.”

The last of the B league matches this Sunday pits last year’s runners-up, Warren Hills up against Police Golf Club who finished a credible fifth last year.

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