Zimbabwe Open Explained

FBC Zim Open
Location:Harare, Zimbabwe
Establishment:1979
Course:Royal Harare Golf Club
Chapman Golf Club
Par:72
Yardage:7241yd (RH)
7198yd (C)
Tour:Sunshine Tour
Challenge Tour
Safari Circuit
Format:Stroke play
Month Played:May
Aggregate:266 Nick Price (1995)
To-Par:−22 as above
Current Champion: Michael Hollick
Map:Zimbabwe
Map Label:Royal Harare GC
Map Relief:yes
Map Size:200
Coordinates:-17.812°N 31.051°W

The Zimbabwe Open is a professional golf tournament held in Zimbabwe, currently played on the Sunshine Tour.

History

The tournament debuted in 1984 and was part of the Safari circuit from 1985 to 1992, a series of events in Africa played by professionals from the European Tour during the winter season. In 1991 and 1992, the event was also part of the Challenge Tour. From 1993, it moved onto the First National Bank Tour, later renamed the Sunshine Tour.

When it was held in the weeks preceding the Nedbank Golf Challenge, the tournament attracted some of the world's leading players who used it as a warm up to the big money invitational. Past winners include major winners Vijay Singh and Nick Price with Mark McNulty also achieving three victories, making him one of the most successful players in the event. Past winner Gordon J. Brand represented the Ryder Cup.

Due to economic instability in Zimbabwe, the tournament lost sponsors and was cancelled prior to the 2002 event. There were many attempts to resurrect the tournament, but none were successful until 2010.[1] [2] [3] The 2019 edition was also cancelled because of a lack of sponsors caused by a weak economy.[4]

Having not been played in 2019, 2020 and 2021, the tournament returned in 2022, sponsored by FBC Bank.[5] It had been anticipated that the event would be added to the 2023 European Tour schedule.[6] However, this never came to fruition, mainly due to changes in the venue qualifying criteria set by the European Tour. It was anticipated that the tournament would become a European Tour event in 2024 instead.[7] Again, this never came to fruition.

Winners

YearTourWinnerScoreTo parMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-upVenueRef.
FBC Zim Open
2024 268 −20 2 strokes Royal Harare
2023 277 −11 4 strokes Royal Harare [8]
2022 278 −10 Playoff Royal Harare [9]
Zimbabwe Open
2021: No tournament
2020 No tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2019 Cancelled due to lack of funding [10]
Old Mutual Zimbabwe Open
2018 272 −16 1 stroke Royal Harare
Zimbabwe Open
2017 272 −16 Playoff Royal Harare
Golden Pilsener Zimbabwe Open
2016 277 −11 2 strokes Royal Harare
2015 272 −16 1 stroke Royal Harare
2014 Jbe' Kruger (2) 270 −18 1 stroke Royal Harare
2013 274 −14 1 stroke Royal Harare
2012 273 −15 Playoff Royal Harare
Africom Zimbabwe Open
2011 201 −15 2 strokes Royal Harare
2010 269 −19 2 strokes Royal Harare
2002–2009: No tournament
CABS/Old Mutual Zimbabwe Open
2001 275 −13 3 strokes Chapman
2000 Mark McNulty (3) 269 −19 1 stroke Royal Harare
Zimbabwe Open
1999 271 −17 2 strokes Chapman
1998 Nick Price (3) 271 −17 5 strokes Royal Harare
1997 Nick Price (2) 269 −19 2 strokes Chapman
1996 Mark McNulty (2) 270 −18 4 strokes Chapman
1995 266 −22 1 stroke Royal Harare
1994 272 −16 Playoff Royal Harare
1993 273 −15 8 strokes Chapman
1992 272 −16 9 strokes Royal Harare [11]
1991 282 −6 Playoff Chapman [12]
1990 SAF 281 −7 1 stroke Chapman [13]
1989 SAF 282 −6 2 strokes Chapman [14]
1988 SAF 275 −6 1 stroke Chapman [15] [16]
1987 SAF 277 −11 Playoff Royal Harare [17]
1986 SAF 277 −11 2 strokes Royal Harare [18]
1985 SAF 281 −7 3 strokes Chapman [19]
1984 Anderson Rusike (a) Royal Harare
1981–1983: No tournament
1980 279 −9 Playoff Bulawayo
Zimbabwe-Rhodesia Open
1979 275 −13 Playoff Chapman

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Zimbabwe Open to bounce back . Zimbabwe Independent . 30 July 2004 . 2008-12-04 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090122005112/http://www.thezimbabweindependent.com/sport/16000.html . 22 January 2009 .
  2. News: Zim Open hits a bunker . Zimbabwe Standard . 13 June 2005 . 6 February 2020.
  3. News: Zimbabwe Open to bounce back . Zimbabwe Herald . 10 October 2009 . 2010-01-22.
  4. News: Financiers pull plug on Zim Open . 25 July 2019.
  5. Web site: FBC Sponsors 2022 Zimbabwe Open Golf Tournament . FBC Bank Limited . 14 April 2022 . 28 April 2022.
  6. News: Zim Open set to earn DP World Tour status . Zimbabwe Independent . 14 April 2022 . 28 April 2022.
  7. News: FBC Zim Open organisers eye DP World Tour status in 2024 . The Standard . Zimbabwe . 16 April 2023 . 26 April 2023.
  8. News: Schietekat back in winner's circle . SuperSport . Michael . Vlismas . 7 May 2023 . 7 May 2023.
  9. News: SA's Venter wins FBC Zim Open title . NewsDay . 23 May 2022 . 15 July 2022.
  10. News: Zim Open tourney cancelled again . The Chronicle . Zimbabwe . Takudzwa . Chitsiga . 11 July 2019 . 15 July 2022.
  11. News: Zim golfers stage big win . . 16 January 1992 . 11.
  12. News: . 14 January 1991 . Scunthorpe's Waters on the crest of a wave . 15.
  13. News: England's Grant Turner . The Herald. Glasgow . 15 January 1990 . 19.
  14. News: In Harare, Zimbabwe . . 31 January 1989 . 41.
  15. News: Roger Chapman . The Herald. Glasgow . 22 February 1988 . 10.
  16. News: Richard Fish . The Herald. Glasgow . 19 February 1988 . 39.
  17. News: Tournament favourite . The Herald. Glasgow . 23 February 1987 . 10.
  18. News: Zimbabwe Open goes to Bennett by two strokes . The Herald. Glasgow . 24 March 1986 . 13.
  19. News: Mackenzie hooks his way to victory . The Herald. Glasgow . 1 April 1985 . 13.