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Michael Hollick during round one of the 2025 FBC Zimbabwe Open: Image Credit - Sunshine Tour Images

A NEW winner will be crowned at the 2025 FBC Zimbabwe Open after defending champion Michael Hollick missed the cut at the conclusion of the second round on Friday. Hollick, who shot -20 last year to win the championship was one of the favourites going into the 2025 edition after he had closed the previous Sunshine Tour season with a victory in the DNi Tour Championship.

The South African’s early exit means that, once again in 27 years, no player will be able to defend his title at the Zimbabwe Open. The last golfer to do that was Zimbabwean great and former world number one, Nick Price who won the 1997 edition and went on to defend it in 1998.

Hollick carded three-over-par-147. He signed for a second round 69 having shot 78 in the opening round. With the defending champion bowing out, Luis Carrera (-11) was the overnight leader on round two with a one stroke lead over MJ Viljoen (-10). Carrera is playing his first Sunshine Tour tournament after he won the Sunshine Tour Qualifying School in April following a career-low round of 61 on the final day. Carrera is happy with the way he started the tournament. “I think the Sunshine Tour is a great tour. It gives you the potential to get to other tours like the HotelPlanner Tour and DP World Tour. So that’s what made me decide to play here."

“I’m just very happy to be playing a full season on the Sunshine Tour. I was fortunate to play good golf at the Q School and I won that. Now I’m off to a good start here, and I’m happy about that. This is exactly the way I’d like to start the season. So I’m just looking forward to the weekend. The course is in great shape and my game has been pretty good,” said Carrera.