HARARE - Bulawayo-based golfer Brian Gondo held his overnight lead to clinch the Hwange Chaferfly Open by a single stroke yesterday.

Gondo, who won the Open Classic back in June, started the weekend in dominant fashion when he carded a six-under 66 in the first round on Saturday.

Nerves however, got the better of the Bulawayo Golf Club golfer yesterday as Nyasha Muyambo threatened to chip away his lead.

“I feel very happy to have won this tournament,” Gondo told the Daily News last night.

“Coming down this weekend I had been hitting the ball very well and I was pretty confident of doing well here.

“My 66 yesterday (Saturday) is probably one of the best rounds of golf ever played at Hwange colliery Golf Club.”  

Muyambo and Tich Musemburi were tied for second place after the first 18 holes, some five strokes behind Gondo.

It was always going to be a tough ask for the two to cut Gondo’s lead in the final round.

Despite the five-shot advantage, Gondo had to hold on to win the tournament after firing a two-over 74 yesterday.

Gondo gross total finished at four-under 140.

“Going into the last hole it was all square with the young Muyambo and I had to sink a very long putt for birdie to clinch the tournament,” said Gondo.

“I’m also glad that this win moves me into second place on the Zambezi tour Oder of Merit.”

Gondo walked away with a winners cheque of $3  600.

Muyambo and Ignatius Mketekete finished tied on second just one shot behind the winner on three-under 141.
Both golfers won $2 070 each for coming joint second.

Muyambo fired a one-under 71 on Saturday before going on to score a two-under 70 yesterday.

Mketekete started the final round in fourth place after he carded an even par 72 on Saturday.

He followed that up with a three-under 69 yesterday to join Muyambo in second place.

In fourth place was veteran Roy Da Costa, who finished with a gross total of 144.

Da Costa had came from 11th place after firing a three-over 75 on Saturday before yesterday’s three-under 69 to win $1 620.

Tongo Charamba completed the top five places after firing rounds of 75 and 71 over the two days to finish on two-over 146.

Charamba walked away with a cheque of $1 440.