The ManicaPost
Ray Bande Senior Sports Reporter
ONLY 18 golfers turned up for the 2017 edition of the two-day Hillside Masters Tournament played at the 18-hole Hillside Golf Course in Mutare last weekend.
This was the lowest ever turnout in the history of the prestigious golf competition. This year’s Hillside Masters also failed to attract any pro unlike in the past when renowned professional golfers would take time to partake in the tournament.
Zimbabwe Golf Association golf development officer-in-charge of competitions Boniface Chigorimbo, who also took part in the Hillside Masters, confirmed that this was the lowest number of golfers to compete in the Hillside Masters.
“It was indeed the lowest number of golfers ever to compete in this tournament. This is obviously as a result of the economic hardships that we are all facing. “It also has something to do with a busy schedule for golfers who were having numerous tournaments around the country this year,” he said.
Chigorimbo commended the golfers who sacrificed their time and resources to ensure that the annual competition was held. He praised the winner, David Amm, for a remarkable performance.
“I really want to thank all golfers who sacrificed their time and resources to ensure that the annual competition was held. As we are all aware times are hard and sport, like any other sphere of life, also suffers. Therefore, it is commendable that we still have players dedicated to the sport.
“I think David Amm, the winner really played well as well as other players who took part in this tournament. We witnessed serious shooting and serious under pars. That was really commendable. I am happy that we managed to have this tournament even though the environment is tough,” said Chigorimbo.
Top-ranked Zimbabwean junior golfer, Amm’s star kept shining after the 17-year-old won the Hillside Matsres tournament. Hillside Masters is a world amateur tournament played over 72 holes in which players amass international ranking points.
The Chapman Golf Club prodigy, who was part of the Zimbabwe World Cup team in 2015 and last year, Amm, ended the first round on Saturday on top with an impressive 68 nett and then wrapped up his outstanding performance in the Hiillside Masters Championship Division with 298 points.
Amm has been in top form in the junior circuit recently, managing successive wins on the Zimbabwe Golf Association Amateur Circuit at the Mawegu Open and the Roland Park Open.
Rasheed Mohamed weighed in second position with 322 points. Hillside Golf Club, which has hosted numerous prestigious tournaments in the past, has a rich history having been established more than 105 years ago.
It is the only golf course in the periphery of Mutare’s Central Business District.
It marked 105 years of existence with a tournament played last year.
