Top Zimbabwean junior golfer Michael Wallace got his season off to a perfect start after completing a dominant win in the season opening Dugmore Trophy at Bulawayo Golf Club on Sunday.
Fresh from a solid performance at the Junior Orange Bowl Championship in the US early this month, Wallace carded rounds of 71, 78 and 70 for a 54-hole total of three over par 219 to comfortably win the tournament by seven clear shots after dominating the event from start to finish.
Wallace, who plays out of Royal Harare Golf Club in Harare finished ahead home favourites Matthew Williams (75-75-76) and Barry Painting (74-73-79), who tied for second position on a gross total of 226.
Williams went into the tournament as the defending champion after winning the coveted title in 2019 before the last two editions failed to take place due to the Covid-19 pandemic which resulted in the Government suspending all sporting activities as the country battled the pandemic.
Chapman Golf Club junior Ethan Kristiansen (78-79-77) finished in solo fourth on 234 while his clubmate Nkosilati Dube (76-76-84) was a shot back in fifth position.
A strong field of 48 amateur golfers drawn from clubs around the country took part in the tournament which officially marked the start of the Zimbabwe Golf Association (ZGA) season.
The tournament also carried crucial ZGA Order of Merit points which would be used for selection into the national team for regional and international team competitions such as the Zone 6 Tournament, the All Africa Amateur Golf Team Championships and the Eisenhower Trophy.
After the season opener, some local golfers are expected to participate in the South African Stroke Play Championship to be played Randpark Golf Club in Johannesburg from 21-24 February.
The next event on the local circuit will be the Julius and Robinson Trophy to be played at Wingate Golf Club from February 26 -27.