The evergreen Hennie Otto rolled back the years against some of the Sunshine Tour’s youngest stars as he claimed the lead on day one of the FBC Zim Open at the Royal Harare Golf Club on Thursday.
Related: Hollick ends Sunshine Tour season with win
The 48-year-old Otto signed for an opening six-under-par 66 for a one-stroke lead over Tyrone Ryan, Luis Carrera, Austin Bautista and another veteran in Doug McGuigan.
South Africa’s Ryan took the early clubhouse lead in this R3 million tournament with his 67, and was later joined by McGuigan, Carrera – the winner of the Sunshine Tour Qualifying School in April who had a strong run of five consecutive birdies on his second nine – and Bautista.
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Otto then broke that stranglehold with his birdie on the 18th, and the South African has put himself in a strong position to claim his 15th Sunshine Tour title this week and his first since 2023.
It’s been a few years since Otto has found himself in contention in Zimbabwe. He finished seventh in 1998 the year former world number one Nick Price took the title, and then third in 1999 and 13th in 2010.
It was a tough start for defending champion Michael Hollick as he opened with a 78 in a first round that began in chilly conditions.
JC Ritchie, the winner of the 2017 title, started his week well with an opening round of 69 to put him just three shots off the lead.
The FBC Zim Open marks the start of the Sunshine Tour’s new 2025/26 season.
