South African golfers enjoyed a good first day on the first of the First Capital Bank Zimbabwe Junior Golf Open as they dominated the leaderboard in the third edition of the event which teed off at Borrowdale Brooke Golf Estate on Friday.
Jayden Hoskins and Mitch Phigeland shared the top spot on the men’s leaderboard after they both shot 68 to close the opening day on 4-Under par.
South Africans occupied the top three positions with Marno Mange who finished fourth in the competition last year sitting in third place one shot behind the leaders.
Ryan Melville and Johndre Ludick also from South Africa tied for fourth along with Swiss golfer Jules Heissig after carding 70 to kick start the competition.
Defending champion Devon Valentine was in a four way tie with Zimbabweans Tawana Mangoma and Keegan Shutt as well as Shijie Li from China on one-nder par after the first round.
In the girls’ category, it was South Africa in the top five with last year’s runner-up Phenyo Sebata taking the early initiative on 3-under par 69.
She was the only lady to shoot a below par score and was three strokes ahead of compatriot Olivia Wood on level par.
Charlotte Millard who won the class at the previous event was tied for third on 2-over par along with Jasmine Furstenburg.
Kamaya Moodliar completed the top five a stroke further back after a round of 75.
Zimbabwe junior golf team player Miriam Masiya is the highest placed local female player in a tie for seventh position after carding five-over-par 77.
At least 68 junior players across 10 nationalities are taking part in this year’s event, up from the 61 who entered the draw last year.
BOYS – ROUND 1 LEADERBOARD
68 (-4) Mitch Phigeland SA; Jayden Hoskins SA
69 (-3) Marno Lange SA
70 (-2) Johndre Ludick SA; Ryan Mellville SA; Jules Haessig SUI
71 (-1) Devon Valentine SA; Keegan Shutt ZIM; Tawana Mangoma ZIM; Shiije Li CHI
72 (lvl) Vuyisani Makama SA; Collins Matovu UGA; Tanaka Chatora ZIM
73 (+1) Zinan Maimane SA; Connor Olfsen SA; Michael Chuma ZAM; Ibrahim Ssemakula UGA;
74 (+2) Vincent Chidambazina ZIM; Ernest Herman GHA
GIRLS – ROUND 1 LEADERBOARD
69 (-3) Phenyo Sebata SA
72 (lvl) Olivia Wood SA
74 (+2) Charlotte Millard SA; Jasmine Furstenburg SA
75 (+3) Kamaya Moodliar SA
76 (+4) Yixuan Mu CHI
77 (+5) Tylah James; Miriam Masiya ZIM
78 (+6) Jaden Visagie SA
82 (+10) Loapi Chokwe BOT
83 (+11) Keisha Kagoro UGA; Maru Chokwe BOT
86 (+14) Shamain Mhundwa SA
87 (+15) Zarina Makwarimba ZIM
88 (+16) Zayaan Hendricks SA
92 (+20) Lilly Ascot SA