POOR START FOR NOBUHLE IN ROYAL SWAZI

MBABANE – It was not dream restart of action for professional golfer Nobuhle Dlamini when she teed-off yesterday in the Investec Royal Swazi (Ladies).

She was at par by yesterday afternoon with South Africa’s Cassandra Hall leading with 13 over par. This was Dlamini’s first appearance in a competitive tournament after eight months due to the COVID-19 pandemic that saw the suspension of sports. 

The tournament is played in four rounds. 

Another local professional golfer, James Pennington, did not qualify for the E1.5 million-sponsored tournament.

Dlamini is seeking a hat-trick of titles after wins in 2018 and 2019. She also finished as runner-up in 2017. 

Restrictions

The restrictions on international travel forced the Investec Royal Swazi Open to be moved from its traditional home of the Royal Swazi Sun Country Club in Eswatini to the Gary Player Country Club, Sun City, South Africa.

This is not the first time the Eswatini national Open has been played in South Africa. 

According to the sunshinetour.com, in 2002, the year Mark McNulty won with a final round of 61, the tournament was played at the Wild Coast Sun Country Club.

This week’s Investec Royal Swazi Open at the Gary Player Country Club has even greater significance on its 50th anniversary, and in light of December’s South African Open being played at the same golf course.

This will be the first major tournament at the Gary Player Country Club since it reopened for play on September 19. 

And it will be a fitting one as the Investec Royal Swazi Open celebrates 50 years as a truly iconic event on the southern African golf calendar.

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