I am so grateful to God for this victory because it puts my name on the map. This win will be life and game-changing for me – Robson Chinhoi

Event: Zanaco Masters Championship
Dates: May 18 – 21, 2023
Venue, Lusaka Golf Club, Zambia
Purse: ZAR 2,200,000

After shining on the Safari Tour in East Africa with two victories, Robson Chinhoi finally showed his prowess closer home after winning the Zanaco Masters in Zambia and his maiden win with global significance. The win was his first on the prestigious Sunshine tour after outlasting South African, Neil Schietekat in the playoffs at Lusaka Golf Club.

Chinhoi had been on a run of good form both locally and on the Kenya-based Safari Tour circuit. The lanky golfer won an impressive three times on the Safari Tour during the just-ended season after clinching the Uganda Open last October before sealing back-to-back triumphs at Sigona Golf Club and Limuru Country Club on January 18 and 26 respectively.

Chinhoi also had an opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the best players in Europe when he featured in the DP World Tour co-sanctioned Magical Kenya Open 2023 played at Muthaiga Golf Club from March 9-12. Although Chinhoi didn’t make the cut in the Magical Kenya Open, he was able to gain some valuable experience.

At Zanaco Masters, Chinhoi shot 17 under par after four rounds and becomes the first indigenous black man to win the Sunshine Tour sanctioned tournament in Zambia.

Chinhoi, who began the day two shots off the lead, put himself in contention by collecting two birdies in a bogey-free front nine. He then claimed the lead with three more birdies on the back nine, before a pulled drive saw him bogey the 17th and then only make par on the par-five final hole, leaving him with a 68 for 17 under par for the tournament.

Schietekat was six under for his final round through 13 holes, roaring up the leaderboard, but he then made a crucial bogey on the par-four 14th hole and then could only par his way in to the clubhouse.

The victory puts Chinhoi in the Sunshine Tour Winners Category which offers him more playing opportunities. He is now allowed to play all Sunshine Tour events without having to go through qualifiers for the next two years.

The pair played the 515 metre 18th hole again in the playoff and the 32-year-old Chinhoi produced an excellent tee-shot that left him 207m from the green. From there, he hit a seven-iron short of the green, made sure he left his chip below the hole on the hard green, and calmly slotted a five-foot putt for birdie to claim the title, as the experienced Schietekat could only make par.

“I am so grateful to God for this victory because it puts my name on the map. This win will be life and game-changing for me. I managed to lift my game and this victory has changed everything,” a delighted Chinhoi said.

While Chinhoi was superb off the tee on in the final round, he putted with computer-like accuracy under the pressure of the final round and a large crowd of contenders.

Young Ryan van Velzen birdied the 18th hole to finish with the clubhouse lead on 16 under and then faced an anxious wait, but Chinhoi and Schietekat did not drop any further strokes, leaving the 21-year-old alone in third place.

Stefan Wears-Taylor was also in contention but then bogeyed the last to post a 69 that left him on 15 under, a score matched by Sean Bradley, who had reached 16 under by the 10th hole, but then had seven straight pars and a bogey to finish.

Rupert Kaminski (65) and Trevor Fisher Jnr (66) were the other golfers to share fourth place on 15 under par.

Bagging his maiden Sunshine victory in the 11^th attempt has earned him a Sunshine Tour Card. The victory puts Chinhoi in the Sunshine Tour Winners Category which offers him more playing opportunities. He is now allowed to play all Sunshine Tour events without having to go through qualifiers for the next two years.

His victory also came with the opportunity to take part in tournaments co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour in South Africa.

The Zimbabwean, who has been on form in East Africa Safari Tours before the big win, has also moved up the world rankings. Before Zanaco Masters, Chinhoi was ranked in position 2615 and after his victory, he rose 1,268 places to number 1,347. He becomes the fourth highest ranked Zimbabwean after Scott Vincent (125), Kieran Vincent (425) and Benjamin Follen – Smith (703).

Chinhoi is now the second black Zimbabwean to win a Sunshine Tour after Tongoona (TC) Charamba who bagged the accolade in 2006. He becomes the first black man first indigenous black man to win Sunshine Tour sanctioned tournament in Zambia.

Final Leaderboard – Top 10

Pos	Name	R1	R2	R3	R4	Total
1.	Chinhoi Robson	66	67	70	68	271
2.	Schietekat Neil	65	69	71	66	271
3.	Van Velzen Ryan	67	70	69	66	272
T4	Kaminski Rupert	70	70	68	65	273
T4	Fisher Jr Trevor	68	67	72	66	273
T4	Wears-Taylor Stefan	67	66	71	69	273
T4	Bradley Sean	69	64	69	71	273
T8	Rohwer Martin	72	64	70	69	275
T8	Williams Robin	71	70	69	65	275
T10	Mitchell Malcolm	70	65	71	70	276
T10	Wicks David	65	69	67	75	276
T10	Ram Nikhil	70	69	69	68	276