South Africa’s rising starlets Devon Valentine and Charlotte Millard successfully defended their First Capital Bank Zimbabwe Junior Golf Open titles at Borrowdale Brooke Golf Estate on Sunday.
Having won the boy’s and girl’s titles last year, they repeated the achievement by retaining their trophies to cap off another successful edition of the high profile tournament.
Valentine, from Wedgewood Golf Golf Club in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape capped off his campaign with a one-over par 74 to clinch the coveted boys’ title on a 54-hole total of 7-under-par 209.
The victory earned Valentine vital World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points and an opportunity to play alongside the pros in the upcoming Sunshine Tour co-sanctioned FBC Zimbabwe Open which will be played at Royal Harare Golf Club.
Valenite finished two shots clear of his compatriot Johndre Ludick, who finished with a solid 71 for a total of 5-under-par 207.
South Africa’s Jayden Hoskins and Switzerland’s Jules Haessig finished tied for third position on four-under par, a shot ahead of Chimanimani-based Vincent Chidambazina, who was the highest placed Zimbabwean in fifth position on three-under par.
Home favourite Keegan Shutt was tied for sixth on two-under-par.
There was more South African success in the girls competition where Millard needed a play-off birdie at the first extra hole to go back-to-back in the Girls Division of the 2024 First Capital Bank Zimbabwe Junior Open.
Millard, who represents Killarney Golf Club in Johannesburg carded rounds of 74, 72 & 72 for a 54-hole total of 2-over 218.
She finished tied for top position on the leaderboard with her compatriot Olivia Wood, who had carded rounds of 72, 73 and 73 for a two-over par total in regulation.
However Millard held her nerve during the playoff to successfully defend her title.
Miriam Masiya was the highest placed Zimbabwean in the girls’ division as she finished in eighth position on 16-over par following rounds of 77, 78 and 77.