Mexico’s Luis Carrera, the winner of the Sunshine Tour Qualifying School in April, is looking for his first victory on the Tour as he heads into the weekend of the FBC Zim Open with a one-stroke lead on 11 under par.
Carrera signed for a second round of six-under-par 66 at the Royal Harare Golf Club on Friday, finishing with two consecutive birdies to secure the overall lead in the first tournament of the new 2025/26 Sunshine Tour season.
It is a powerful statement from Carrera as to his intent on the Sunshine Tour.
After winning the Qualifying School with a career-low round of 61 on the final day, the Mexican professional has some very clear goals for his Sunshine Tour career.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
MJ Viljoen, who finished last year’s tournament in joint sixth place, produced a flawless round of 66 with four birdies on his second nine to make him Carrera’s nearest challenger on 10 under par.
The South African focused on doing the basics right on Friday. “I had a good couple of days and have been playing solid golf. The patience paid off today. I did my thing, kept the ball in play, and got it on the green,” he said.
As a multiple winner on the Sunshine Tour, Viljoen said he is simply focusing on his own game going into the weekend. “There will be a lot of thoughts going through my head. But if I just focus on my processes, stay patient, and keep doing what I am doing, you never know.”
Hennie Otto, who led the first round, remained in contention in joint third place on seven under par with a second round of 71.
SCORES:
133 - Luis Carrera 67 66
134 - MJ Viljoen 68 66
137 - Hennie Otto 66 71, Martin Rohwer 72 65, Austin Bautista 67 70
138 - Jean Hugo 70 68
139 - Trevor Fisher Jnr 69 70, Robson Chinhoi 71 68
140 - Ruan Conradie 71 69, Fredrik From 70 70, Warwick Purchase 68 72, Samuel Simpson 71 69, Simon du Plooy 73 67, Doug McGuigan 67 73
141 - Oliver Bekker 71 70, Matthew Spacey 72 69, Hennie O'Kennedy 74 67, Malcolm Mitchell 72 69, Jaco Prinsloo 70 71
142 - Kyle McClatchie 70 72, Jaco Van Zyl 70 72, Estiaan Conradie 73 69, Visitor Mapwanya 71 71, Brandon Meads 69 73, Jacques Blaauw 69 73, JJ Senekal 70 72, Stefan Wears-Taylor 72 70, Ruan Korb 73 69, Rhys West 70 72, Heinrich Bruiners 70 72, Lyle Rowe 71 71
143 - Ryan Cairns 70 73, Jake Redman 71 72, Dylan Mostert 69 74, Tristen Strydom 74 69, Herman Loubser 75 68, Nyasha Muyambo 70 73, Rupert Kaminski 71 72, Kyle Barker 70 73, Stals Swart 71 72, Werner Deyzel 72 71
144 - Joe Knox 73 71, Dayne Moore 74 70, Shaahid Mahmed 73 71, Ricky Hendler 70 74, Luke Brown 75 69, Gerhard Pepler 73 71, Tyrone Ryan 67 77, Christiaan Basson 68 76, David Meyers 70 74, Kyle De Beer 71 73, Stuart Krog 75 69
145 - Pierre Viallaneix 75 70, Tyran Snyders 74 71, Luke Jerling 73 72, Quintin Wilsnach 73 72, Jacques P de Villiers 76 69, Graham van der Merwe 75 70, Tonderai Masunga 75 70, Jack Hawksby 72 73, Christiaan Burke 70 75, Neil Schietekat 74 71, Keegan Mclachlan 72 73, Mikkel Antonsen 72 73
MISSED THE CUT:
146 - Jason Roets 73 73, Toto Thimba Jnr 74 72, Xander Basson 72 74, Danie Van Niekerk 74 72, Promise Sombreiro 75 71, JC Ritchie 69 77
147 - Jordan Burnand 73 74, Madalitso Muthiya 78 69, Thomas Spreadborough 72 75, Pierre Pellegrin 79 68, Jordan Duminy 71 76, Michael Hollick 78 69, Hunter Epson 74 73
148 - Albert Venter 75 73, CJ du Plessis 79 69, Greg Snow 72 76, Tongoona Charamba 76 72, Conner Mackenzie 75 73, Otto Van Buynder 76 72, David Amm 75 73, Nevy Milazi 73 75
149 - Pride Sembo 72 77, Joe Long 76 73, Liam Grehan 81 68, Rowan Lester 75 74, Chikayambidze Darlington 78 71, Wynand Dingle 81 68, Matt Millar 74 75, Louis de Jager 73 76, Ruan de Smidt 73 76, Christian Kriek 78 71, Jacquin Hess 71 78, Gregory Mckay 71 78
150 - Paul Adam Chidale 70 80, Hayden Griffiths 74 76, Celestin Nsanzuwera 78 72, Franklin Manchest 74 76, Rourke van der Spuy 76 74, Benjamin Van Wyk 75 75, Martin Vorster 74 76
151 - Clive Nguru 72 79, Eric Wowor 73 78, Peter Karmis 77 74, Devon Valentine 75 76, Christopher Long 73 78, Sean Cronje 75 76, Keegan Shutt 75 76
152 - Shijie Li 76 76, Mohammad Rauf Mandhu 82 70, Ryan van der Klis 76 76, James Mack 78 74
153 - Slenda Sithebe 73 80, Tafadzwa Nyamukondiwa 76 77, Tanaka Chatora 75 78, Slade Pickering 75 78, Stephen Ferreira 79 74, Ronald Rugumayo 75 78, Lucky Ayisa 75 78
154 - Michael Wallace 75 79, Mutahi Kibugu 80 74, Paul Boshoff 76 78, Keagan Thomas 75 79, Tristin Galant 74 80, Leon Vorster 76 78, Biggie Chibvuri 76 78
155 - Luca Filippi 81 74, Callum Mowat 76 79, Brian Gondo 78 77, Trainos Muradzikwa 76 79
156 - Keanu Pestana 78 78
157 - Simon Murungweni 75 82, Tafara Mpofu 80 77, Nick Cunningham 84 73
158 - Kayyam Rauf Mandhu 79 79, Gabriel Chibale 77 81
159 - Bradley Kulaisi 79 80, Keelan Africa 80 79
160 - Dylan O'Leary 81 79, Terrance Keith 84 76, Braydon Amm 78 82
162 - Akil Yousuf 84 78, Kelvin Muchenje 83 79, Morton Kombai 81 81
165 - Tawana Mangoma 82 83, Nerudo Mregi 83 82
167 - Davison Elijah 84 83, Victor Kachepatsonga 83 84
169 - Emile Nshimyumuremyi 83 86, Robinson Owiti 87 82
173 - Matipaishe Pasipanodya 88 85
RTD - Umar Davids 85 RTD, Tyron Davidowitz 75 RTD