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Zimbabwe Open Golf Chairman Livingstone Gwata (L), SA professional James Kamte, Secretary of Zim Open, Michael Mahachi and Zim Open Vice Chairman Albert Nhau at the Telkom PGA in SA last week.

ZIMBABWEAN golfers conspired to disappoint in the Telkom PGA Championship at The Country Club in Johannesburg with all but one failing to make the cut that took in 66 out of a 156-strong field. In what was a huge let-down by local golfers, only Marc Cayeux managed to go the distance in a tournament that was dominated by South Africans.

And while making the cut was commendable, Cayeux, who finished sixth in the Dimnesion Data Pro-Am just a week earlier, was only good enough for a share of 48th position this time round. Cayeux had rounds of 73, 70, 71 and 73 for a 1-under-par 287 total alongside the duo of South Africans Prinavin Nelson (68, 74, 74, 71) and Grant Muller (73, 68, 73, 73).

The other Zimbabweans in the final field - Tongo Charamba, Ryan Cairns, Mike Curtis and Ignatius Mketekete were off colour, missing the cut by some distance. Cairns (72, 73) was placed 79th on 1-over 145 alongside several other golfers - South Africans Christian Ries, Kevin Stone, Eugen Marugi, Wayne Westner and Brandon Pieters as well as Switzerland\\\'s Andre Bossert.

Charamba was even further down in 92nd position after two roller coaster rounds in which his game plummetted from a masterclass to an atrocious outing. Charamba started off with an excellent 4-under-68 in the first round but went off the rails on day 2, firing a flailing 7-over 79 for a disappointing 3-over 147 total that effectively cost him a slot in the final field. Tied with Charamba in 92nd place were a host of golfers including Englishman Jeff Inglis, Stuart Clark of Wales and South Africans Michael McGrady, Mark Murless, Toto Thimba (Jr), Justin Walters, Nico van Rensburg, Wayne Bradley, Jake Redman, Steve van Vuuren, Kenneth Dube and Alain Norris.

Mike Curtis (78, 73) was tied for 125th position with Titch Moore on 151 while Ignatius Mketekete (76, 77) shared 134th position on 153 with Chris Williams, Gavan Lavenson, Michael du Toit, Luis Calitz, Sean MacDonough of England and James Loughnane of Ireland

As expected, the tournament was won by a South African - Michiel Bothma, who fired an outstanding final round 9-under-par 63 to close on 20-under 268 having earlier carded 71, 67 and 67. That earned the golfer a R475 000 cheque with his compatriot, George Coetzee second on 19-under 269 following scores of 71, 67, 64 and 67. Coetzee took home R345 000 for his efforts.

Third place went to Louis Oosthuizen who had scores of 67, 66, 69, 68 for an 18-under-par 270 total and the R207 000 prize. Tjaart van der Walt and Keith Horne made it an all-South Africa top five, taking fourth and fifth positions respectively. Van der Walt had rounds of 67, 68, 71 and 67 for a 15-under-par 273 score and R147 000 in prize money while Horne shot 67, 71, 66 and 70 for a 14-under 274 total and a R123 000 cheque.

However, despite a disappointing outing at the Telkom PGA, Zimbabwean golfers get a chance to redeem themselves on the Sunshine Tour when they take to the field in the Vodacom Championship at Pretoria Country Club from 25-28 February. Once again, five Zimbabweans - Cayeux, Curtis, Charamba, Cairns and Mketekete are automatic entries into the final field. Six more Zimbabweans - Sean Farrell, Julius Kamalizeni, Anyway Katembenuka, Nick MacDonald, Mohammad Mandhu and Robson Saurombe could also make the final field provided they finish in the top 10 positions in the pre-qualifying tournament that precedes the main event.

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