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Blessing Gondo’s Manicaland Amateur Winners’ poster

BLESSING Gondo held his nerve to secure a hard-fought play-off victory over Vincent Chidambazina at the 2026 Manicaland Amateur, held at Mutare Golf Club over the weekend.

Gondo and Chidambazina finished tied on four-under-par 215 after 54 holes, forcing a play-off which Gondo won on the fourth hole.

It was his maiden victory and will now count towards the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR). Gondo opened the championship with a three-under-par 70 on Saturday morning, before carding a two-under-par 71 in the afternoon second round to head into Sunday’s final round at five-under-par 141. He then closed with a one-over-par 74. In his final round, Gondo made a hat-trick of birdies at the first, second and third holes, before dropping shots with a bogey at the fourth and a double bogey at the fifth. He picked up another birdie at the eighth and, after the turn, dropped further shots at the 10th, 12th and 13th holes before birdieing the 16th. Chidambazina carded rounds of 71, 75 and 69. His closing 69 was the lowest round of the tournament, surging a comeback which featured six birdies and just two bogeys. He picked up shots at the third, fourth, fifth, seventh, 12th and 14th, while bogeying the second and sixth holes.

Kyplone MaTsunda finished third on eight-over-par 227, with rounds of 75, 76 and 76.