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Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter

ZIMBABWEAN duo of professional golfers Benjamin Follet-Smith and Mohammad Mandhu missed the cut at the ongoing Vodacom Origins of Golf at Da Zalze Golf Club in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Follet-Smith and Mandhu were the only Zimbabweans in the field and could not manage the projected cut, which was on three under.

After a disastrous opening round where he carded six-over 78 Follet-Smith returned a 70 on Thursday to finish four-over after the two rounds as Mandhu had a 73 and 76 for a five-over overall.

Golf returned to the Sunshine Tour after a two-month break and the Zimbabweans are getting their chances to challenge for honours.

For Follet-Smith, he is running out of time to renew his tour card and he needs to either win a tournament or continue to do well so that his order of merit rankings go up.

The tournament was reduced to three rounds and veteran South African, George Coetzee, is leading at 15-under. Coetzee is on track to claim his fourth Vodacom Origins of Golf title as he heads into this morning’s final round with a three-stroke lead.

Coetzee signed for a 66 in Thursday’s second round to maintain his place at the top of the leaderboard on 15 under par.

There was another early bogey in his round, but which he followed with the same run of birdies as he did during his opening 63.

Oliver Bekker finished the round at nine under par for the tournament but had to withdraw following a positive Covid-19 test.