MBABANE – Eswatini hopefuls have missed out on the lucrative top prize of E396 250 after failing to make the final weekend cut at the prestigious FNB Eswatini Challenge currently underway at the picturesque Ezulwini Golf and Country Club.
The premier Sunshine Tour-sanctioned event teed off on Thursday, drawing over 100 professional golfers from Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas to compete for a record-breaking E2.5 million prize pool. Hopes were high among local fans for domestic talents such as Brandon Rennie, James Pennington, MJ Dlamini, Machawe Maziya and Austin Mabaso to break into the final rounds, but the formidable international field ultimately proved too strong on the greens.
At the sharp end of the championship leaderboard, Australian Austin Bautista holds the tournament advantage at 15 under par, closely shadowed by South Africans Jaco Ahlers and Daniel Cronje alongside France’s Benjamin Kedochim, who are all locked in a tight contest at 14 under par. Meanwhile, Graham van der Merwe is chasing closely behind at 13 under par.
The fierce competition comes on the heels of a high-profile tournament launch led by the Minister for Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, Bongani Nzima, alongside FNB Eswatini CEO Thokozani Dlamini. The executives emphasised the tournament’s vital role in boosting the local economy and supporting hospitality sectors while cementing the nation’s status as a premier destination for professional golf on the international calendar.
Leave a comment