Zimbabwe Open

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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^{[citation needed]}

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

See also

• Open golf tournament

Notes

1. ^ AFR − Sunshine Tour; CHA − Challenge Tour; SAF − Safari Circuit.
2. ^ Shortened to 54 holes due to weather.
3. ^ Two holes were unplayable on day one.

References

1. ^ "Zimbabwe Open to bounce back". Zimbabwe Independent. 30 July 2004. Archived from the original on 22 January 2009. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
2. ^ "Zim Open hits a bunker". Zimbabwe Standard. 13 June 2005. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
3. ^ "Zimbabwe Open to bounce back". Zimbabwe Herald. 10 October 2009. Retrieved 2010-01-22.
4. ^ "Financiers pull plug on Zim Open". 25 July 2019.
5. ^ "FBC Sponsors 2022 Zimbabwe Open Golf Tournament". FBC Bank Limited. 14 April 2022. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
6. ^ "Zim Open set to earn DP World Tour status". Zimbabwe Independent. 14 April 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
7. ^ "FBC Zim Open organisers eye DP World Tour status in 2024". The Standard. 16 April 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
8. ^ "Carrera Breaks the Curse! Mexican storm ends 24-year South African dominance at Zim Open". The Herald. 11 May 2025. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
9. ^ "Hollick bags second Sunshine Tour title with Zim Open win". SuperSport. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
10. ^ Vlismas, Michael (7 May 2023). "Schietekat back in winner's circle". SuperSport. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
11. ^ "SA's Venter wins FBC Zim Open title". NewsDay. 23 May 2022. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
12. ^ Chitsiga, Takudzwa (11 July 2019). "Zim Open tourney cancelled again". The Chronicle. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
13. ^ "Zim golfers stage big win". The Namibian. 16 January 1992. p. 11.
14. ^ "Scunthorpe's Waters on the crest of a wave". The Guardian. 14 January 1991. p. 15.
15. ^ "England's Grant Turner". The Herald. 15 January 1990. p. 19.
16. ^ "In Harare, Zimbabwe". The Sydney Morning Herald. 31 January 1989. p. 41.
17. ^ "Roger Chapman". The Herald. 22 February 1988. p. 10.
18. ^ "Richard Fish". The Herald. 19 February 1988. p. 39.
19. ^ "Tournament favourite". The Herald. 23 February 1987. p. 10.
20. ^ "Zimbabwe Open goes to Bennett by two strokes". The Herald. 24 March 1986. p. 13.
21. ^ "Mackenzie hooks his way to victory". The Herald. 1 April 1985. p. 13.

External links

• Coverage on the Sunshine Tour's official site