FIRST Capital Bank Limited, has poured in a whopping US$20 000 sponsorship package for the second edition of the Zimbabwe Junior Golf Open tournament, which tees off at Borrowdale Brooke Golf Club this morning.
One of Zimbabwe’s fastest-growing banks on the local scene, First Capital Bank, were the inaugural title sponsors of the premier junior golf event which was won by Ivan Verster from South Africa last year.
Margaret Nyamukondiwa, now based in the United States, won in the girls category.
The tournament, which is set to run from August 17 to 20, 2023, has been made possible through a partnership which includes First Capital Bank, the Zimbabwe Junior Golf Association (ZJGA) and Borrowdale Brooke Golf Club.
Over 60 young golfers from Zimbabwe and seven other countries — Botswana, United Kingdom, South Africa, Kenya, China, Malawi and Ghana are going to take part in the event.
First Capital Bank’s US$20 000 sponsorship will cover prize money and other services needed to make the tournament a success.
The bank’s managing director Ciaran McSharry expressed delight that his institution is continuing its flirtation with junior golf.
“We are proud to be partnering with the Zimbabwe Junior Golf Association and Borrowdale Brooke Golf Club to bring you another edition of the Zimbabwe Junior Golf Open tournament. As a regional bank, this exciting sponsorship adds to the work that we are already doing in other spheres to invest in emerging talent in all the markets where we operate,” he said in a statement.
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ZJGA president Themba Sibanda welcomed the sponsorship and investment towards junior golf development in the country.
“We appreciate the continued support from the bank, and we are confident that this will become a permanent fixture on the international golf calendar well into the future,” Sibanda said.
The tournament brings together rising golf stars from various centres across the country.
This year there will be 62 players, of whom no less than 18 are playing off a ‘Plus’ handicap.
Among the 62 players are 10 participants who are on a developmental sponsorship as they have shown great talent in the sport, while there are 12 girls taking part, with the youngest aged 12 and the oldest 17.
Some of the local junior golfers to watch out include Michael Wallace, who finished as runner-up last year, as well as 16-year-old Tanaka Chatora who recently won the Roland Park Open, a senior amateur event.
Chatora, who has two wins on the amateurs circuit in Zimbabwe, finished 11th at the Zimbabwe Junior Golf Open last year.
Primross Chikwaya and Kudzai Mandava carry the country’s hope in the girls section in the absence of Nyamukondiwa.
First Capital Bank is one of the biggest supporters of youth programmes in the local financial market.
The bank works with partners to provide professional mentorship for thousands of young people each year, and it is also a market leader in providing banking services that are targeted at young people.
