The evergreen Hennie Otto rolled back the years against some of the Sunshine Tour’s youngest stars as he claimed the lead on day one of the FBC Zim Open at the Royal Harare Golf Club on Thursday.
The 48-year-old Otto signed for an opening six-under-par 66 for a one-stroke lead over Tyrone Ryan, Luis Carrera, Austin Bautista and another veteran in Doug McGuigan.
South Africa’s Ryan took the early clubhouse lead in this R3 million tournament with his 67, and was later joined by McGuigan, Carrera – the winner of the Sunshine Tour Qualifying School in April who had a strong run of five consecutive birdies on his second nine – and Bautista.
Otto then broke that stranglehold with his birdie on the 18th, and the South African has put himself in a strong position to claim his 15th Sunshine Tour title this week and his first since 2023.
It’s been a few years since Otto has found himself in contention in Zimbabwe. He finished seventh in 1998 the year former world No 1 Nick Price took the title, and then third in 1999 and 13th in 2010.
It was a tough start for defending champion Michael Hollick as he opened with a 78 in a first round that began in chilly conditions.
JC Ritchie, the winner of the 2017 title, started his week well with an opening round of 69 to put him just three shots off the lead.
The FBC Zim Open marks the start of the Sunshine Tour’s new 2025/26 season.
SCORES:
66 - Hennie Otto
67 - Tyrone Ryan, Doug McGuigan, Luis Carrera, Austin Bautista
68 - MJ Viljoen, Christiaan Basson, Warwick Purchase
69 - Brandon Meads, Jacques Blaauw, JC Ritchie, Dylan Mostert, Trevor Fisher Jnr
70 - Christiaan Burke, David Meyers, Jean Hugo, JJ Senekal, Rhys West, Heinrich Bruiners, Kyle Barker, Jaco Prinsloo, Paul Adam Chidale, Ryan Cairns, Ricky Hendler, Jaco Van Zyl, Kyle McClatchie, Fredrik From, Nyasha Muyambo
71 - Visitor Mapwanya, Robson Chinhoi, Rupert Kaminski, Kyle De Beer, Jacquin Hess, Lyle Rowe, Gregory Mckay, Stals Swart, Jake Redman, Jordan Duminy, Ruan Conradie, Oliver Bekker, Samuel Simpson
72 - Xander Basson, Jack Hawksby, Matthew Spacey, Stefan Wears-Taylor, Keegan Mclachlan, Malcolm Mitchell, Mikkel Antonsen, Werner Deyzel, Clive Nguru, Pride Sembo, Thomas Spreadborough, Martin Rohwer, Greg Snow
73 - Christopher Long, Louis de Jager, Ruan Korb, Ruan de Smidt, Nevy Milazi, Eric Wowor, Slenda Sithebe, Jordan Burnand, Joe Knox, Shaahid Mahmed, Jason Roets, Luke Jerling, Quintin Wilsnach, Gerhard Pepler, Estiaan Conradie, Simon du Plooy
74 - Toto Thimba Jnr, Franklin Manchest, Danie Van Niekerk, Matt Millar, Neil Schietekat, Hennie O'Kennedy, Tristin Galant, Martin Vorster, Hunter Epson, Tyran Snyders, Dayne Moore, Hayden Griffiths, Tristen Strydom
75 - Ronald Rugumayo, Conner Mackenzie, Promise Sombreiro, Sean Cronje, Keagan Thomas, Keegan Shutt, Benjamin Van Wyk, Stuart Krog, David Amm, Lucky Ayisa, Pierre Viallaneix, Simon Murungweni, Albert Venter, Tanaka Chatora, Slade Pickering, Luke Brown, Graham van der Merwe, Herman Loubser, Rowan Lester, Tyron Davidowitz, Michael Wallace, Tonderai Masunga, Devon Valentine
76 - Paul Boshoff, Tongoona Charamba, Rourke van der Spuy, Leon Vorster, Otto Van Buynder, Biggie Chibvuri, Shijie Li, Tafadzwa Nyamukondiwa, Joe Long, Jacques P de Villiers, Callum Mowat, Ryan van der Klis, Trainos Muradzikwa
77 - Gabriel Chibale, Peter Karmis
78 - James Mack, Celestin Nsanzuwera, Keanu Pestana, Michael Hollick, Christian Kriek, Braydon Amm, Madalitso Muthiya, Chikayambidze Darlington, Brian Gondo
79 - Pierre Pellegrin, Stephen Ferreira, CJ du Plessis, Bradley Kulaisi, Kayyam Rauf Mandhu
80 - Keelan Africa, Mutahi Kibugu, Tafara Mpofu
81 - Wynand Dingle, Morton Kombai, Luca Filippi, Liam Grehan, Dylan O'Leary
82 - Tawana Mangoma, Mohammad Rauf Mandhu
83 - Kelvin Muchenje, Victor Kachepatsonga, Nerudo Mregi, Emile Nshimyumuremyi
84 - Terrance Keith, Nick Cunningham, Davison Elijah, Akil Yousuf
85 - Umar Davids
87 - Robinson Owiti
88 - Matipaishe Pasipanodya