Description
ZGA predident speaking during the launch of the 2025 FBC Zimbabwe Open in Harare

ZIMBABWE Golf Association (ZGA) president Martin Chikwana described the forthcoming 2025 FBC Zimbabwe Open as the best sporting event in the country. The tournament is scheduled for May 4-11 at Royal Harare Golf Club and last week, title sponsors, FBC announced a sponsorship deal of US$200 000, making it one of the top events on the Sunshine Tour. The FBC Zimbabwe is also the 2025/26 Sunshine Tour season opener. The prestigious tournament is set to attract golfers from across the globe.

“This has been a very important event, as already been said by the title sponsors FBC. They put in US$200 000 into this event and everyone would agree that this is the best sporting event in the country. The different spectra of personalities that are brought together for this event is huge, it stretches from the United States, right across Europe and into Africa with a big chunk coming from South Africa,” said Chikwana.

A total of 144 golfers, including at least 17 local professionals and five amateurs, are expected to compete. Chikwana expressed hope that more junior players would qualify after the Pre-Qualifier. “We have five players (juniors) that are getting direct entry into the event and further to that, we have a huge amount of players that are going to participate in the Pre-Qualifiers so I expect a maybe another three or four youngsters that are going to make it into the event,” said Chikwana. Chikwana emphasised the wider significance of the tournament for the nation and its community. “This event also brings spotlight directly on Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe Golf, in particular Zimbabwe Open. It’s our time to shine, it’s our time to stand up and be counted and we must appreciate that when we stand up, it’s not just for us as Zimbabwe Golf, it’s (for) the hospitality industry, and everyone else that brings value to the event. This is their time to be in the sun. We are appreciative of that as Zimbabwe Golf Association and most importantly, to FBC, who anchor this event,” he said.

Chikwana also noted the event’s popularity among fans. “I know the numbers from last year we had thousands of people (fans). Speaking to the guys from the Sunshine Tour, they said the biggest numbers of spectators anywhere in Africa are found at the Zimbabwe Open. We can’t wait, let it all begin and hopefully we will have one of the best events in a long time,” he said. The Pre-Qualifier is penciled in for May 4-11 with the Championship rounds taking place from May 8-11. Michael Hollick won last year’d edition.