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Howie…….could this be his time?

THE annual Chapman Grand Slam is on this weekend with a significant number of amateur golfers set to compete in the challenging 36-hole tournament in which both rounds are played in a single day. The tournament will be played on Sunday 11 July at Chapman Golf Club in Eastlea with mobile phone operator Telecel bankrolling it.

With the 2009 winner, Mark MacDonald having since left the country to further his golfing career elsewhere, there is bound to be a new title holder at the end of the weekend. Leading amateur, Scott Vincent, whose winning streak was clinically ended by Barry Painting in Mutare a few weeks ago, will once again be among the favourites for the trophy which will be contested for on his home turf.

Vincent has done very well this year, winning the first four major amateur tournaments of the year before that winning streak came to an end in Mutare a fortnight ago. Playing on his home course, Vincent will be highly favoured to bounce back to winning ways on Sunday. He will, however, face a stiff challenge from his club mates – Nyasha Muyambo and Rogers Jack. The duo is definitely in with a good chance of victory in this one given their familiarity with the course and generally good performances on the ZGA circuit this year. Jack, in particular, will be seeking to go one better than last year when he finished as runner-up to MacDonald.

Even though the Chapman pack of golfing stars is tipped to be on top of the situation come Sunday, recent history has proven that home course advantage will count for nothing once the tee-shot has been struck. As recently as the 2008 edition of the Grand Slam, the then Borrowdale Brooke pair of Lyford Yadyo and Anyway Katembenuka arrived at Chapman and were immediately presented with a big obstacle – the Chapman quartet of lanky Nyasha Muyambo, Trynos ‘Sergio’ Muradzikwa, Tich Musemburi and the then just crowned Zimbabwe Amateur champion Mark MacDonald. Playing on home turf, the foursome was expected to dominate the tournament.

Notwithstanding that, Yadyo and Katembenuka pulled off a stunner, finishing first and second respectively with the Chapman boys well beaten. The script could go along the same lines again this year with the on-form Barry Painting of Bulawayo Golf Club leading the charge for honours. Royal Harare’s reigning club champion, Kyle Basson cannot be discounted as well as on his day, he can give the beating to anyone.

Other players to watch out for include junior star Clive Nguru Jnr, former junior national team player Dumi Chitengwa and the Borrowdale Brooke duo of Greg Bentley and Dale Howie.

The Chapman Grand Slam is a yearly tournament hosted by Chapman Golf Club and is played on the second Sunday of July every year.

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