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Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter

FORMER Zimbabwe golf team captain Jack Allard will go into today’s National Aids Council (NAC) sponsored 2021 HIV & Cancer Prevention Drive Pro-Am Golf Tournament final round at Royal Harare leading the field at three-under par.

The tournament tees off at 11:00.

The tournament, which began on Wednesday, has seen 53 professional players taking to the field and Allard who turned professional some two years ago is expected to continue with his fine form and win the event.

Allard, a Bulawayo-based Harry Allen Golf club member who was also on a golf scholarship at Barry University in United States, took over the lead from South Africa-based Benjamin Follet-Smith who had an opening round of 69.

Follet-Smith, a former winner of the same tournament, followed up his 69 with a 73 yesterday and is now tied on second with Tonderai Masunga who is making progress as well.

The two used to represent Wingate Golf club together during their amateur ranks and Masunga opened with a 70 and 72 to stay on two-under-par.

Royal Harare-based Ryan Cairns and Robson Saurombe are within touching distance tied on fourth and they carded 71 and 73 as well as 72 and 72 for level par 144.

Allard had came into yesterday’s round tied on 72 with Saurombe.

Fifty-three golfers are battling for honours in the NAC-sponsored tournament which has set an ambitious target of raising US$100 000 for HIV and Cancer prevention.

The fifth edition of the tournament comes hard on the heels of the Zimbabwe Ladies Open Strokeplay competition, which was also sponsored by NAC.

The 2021 HIV & Cancer Prevention Drive Pro-Am Golf Tournament seeks to raise US$100 000 with US$52 000 meant for KIDZCAN for implementation of childhood anti-cancer initiatives.