After a nightmarish second day, Chapman professional golfer Robson Saurombe, brilliantly bounced back to bag the Golden Pilsener Harare Open, edging out Mohammad Mandhu in a nerve-wrecking sudden death play-off at Chapman Golf Club yesterday.
By OUR STAFF
The two players had finished level on 2-under-par after the three rounds of the flagship Golden Pilsener Zambezi Tour tournament and Saurombe produced an exquisite chip to set himself up for a birdie, putting pressure on Mandhu who had found the green with only his second shot on the 5-par 18th hole.
Royal Harare’s Mandhu missed his attempt for a title winning eagle and missed another putt for birdie while Saurombe kept his composure as he birdied to scoop the US$3 600 winners’ cheque.
“I really feel great, I thank God once again and the support I got from my family today was amazing. After yesterday I didn’t think I had a chance, I just hung in there today and told myself to shoot a low number, it was not as low as I wanted but it was low enough to see me sail through to victory in the play off,” said the Chapman Golf club teaching Pro after the win.
Mandhu got US$2 600 for his efforts while Nickson Masunga, who finished third on 1 under par, received US$2 100. Overnight leader, Brian Gondo found the going very tough to finish tied in 27th place after a disappointing 83 in the final round.
Perkins Mutenda from Mutare’s Leopard Rock Golf Club won the amateurs division after a tie with Renco Mine’s Visitor Mapwanya on 4 over par but Mapwanya opted out of a play off after suffering a nasty injury, ceding the title to his rival.
