Lovemore Dube, CHIEF WRITER
ZIMBABWE’S top professional golfer Scott Vincent pocketed over US$600 000 after winning the Mizuno Open, the International Series England and finishing joint 20th in the lucrative Saudi-funded rebel LIV Golf series last Saturday.
Vincent pocketed a total of US$679 125.60 for winning his first Asia Tour event, the International Series England in Newcastle, England which is the first Asian Tour event to be held in the United Kingdom and getting prize money of US$360 000 before racking in US$200 000 for finishing joint 20th at the LIV GOLF London Invitational. Prior to these two events, Vincent won the Mizuno Open on the Japan Tour and pocketed ¥16,000,000 or US$119,125.60.
Before matching up with some of the games top pro golfers in the LIV Golf event, Vincent had secured back-to-back Asia Tour wins with victory in the International Series England, the first Asian Tour event to be staged in the UK and the Mizuno Open on the Japan Tour.
Vincent struggled in the final round before finishing joint 20th in the LIV Golf series last Saturday in the 54-hole, three-day event. Vincent carded three rounds of 67-72-76 while Poulter carded 75-66-74.
Charl Schwartzel won the inaugural event as Patrick Reed became the latest big-name player to sign up. South Africa’s Schwartzel carded a final round of 72 at the Centurion Club outside London to finish seven under par and a shot clear of compatriot Hennie du Plessis.
Vincent started off well, ending the first round 5 under but par in the second round and 4-over in the third saw his bid for at least a top 10 finish collapse.
After teeing off in the second round placed joint third, Vincent bogeyed the first, was even for on the second before double bogeying the third and was even for par on the par 4 fourth hole. He went to bogey the 6th, 10th, 14th and the 18th holes. However, birdies in the 5th, 8th, 13th, 16th and 17th gave him an even round of 72.
In the final round, Vincent was only able to card one birdie on the second hole having double bogeyed the first. He bogeyed five more holes to finish the round four-over 76.
A few days before the LIV London Invitational, Vincent won the inaugural International Series England at Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort near Newcastle, England.
The Zimbabwean finished on 12 under-par, one shot ahead of Australia’s Travis Smyth, who bogeyed the 72nd hole.
“It’s amazing,” said 30-year-old Vincent, who became the first Zimbabwean to win on the Asian Tour.
“This is the tour I started on, so obviously it’s nice to get the first win out here. It has felt like a long time but my game is trending in a good direction. It got very close there at the end, but – just one of those things – it kind of fell in my favour and I’m very thankful.”
The victory secured Scott his place at the first LIV golf event at the Centurion Club.
Zimbabwe Golf Association (ZGA) president, Martin Chikwana said he was satisfied with Vincent’s continued development as a pro golfer.
“We are proud of Scott Vincent and the goods show he continues to put up every time he hits the course. Him finishing joint 20th and an event with a quality field like the LIV London Invitational shows that he is constantly improving.
“I am confident he will continue to grow and is one round of golf closer to a major tour victory,” said Chikwana.
