Pro Golf: Hendler edges Chinhoi to claim biggest share of $50,000 kitty

2022 National Aids Council (NAC) Pro Am:

Winner: Ricky Hendler (South Africa) – 68, 67, 76 (211)
2^n.d: Robson Chinhoi (Zimbabwe) – 71, 72, 71 (214)
3^rd: Ignatius Mketekete (Zimbabwe) – 72, 73, 71 (216)

South Africa’s Ricky Hendler won the 2022 National Aid Council (NAC) HIV and cancer prevention drive Pro Am title at the Royal Harare Golf Club in Zimbabwe.

Hendler, a member of Dainfern Country Club in Johannesburg city, hit 211 in 54 holes to edge Zimbabwean pro Robson Chinhoi by three strokes.

After a phenomenal 4-under par-68 on the opening round, Hendler further improved to 5-under-67 during the subsequent round.

For the final round, it was a stern test as it faded to 4-over par 76, as his closest challenger Chinhoi scored 1-under 71.

On the final leaderboard, Hendler, a three-time champion of the Altron Big Easy Tour in South Africa was three strokes ahead to claim the shield and largest share of the $50,000 prize kitty.

In February 2022, Hendler hit a 9-under 63 round to win the Bushveld Tour’s at his Dainfern Country Club.

Ricky Hendler (Photo by Tyrone Winfield/Sunshine Tour/Gallo Images)

Robson Chinhoi was runners up

Chinhoi, the 2020 Uganda Golf Open professional winner scored 1-under 71, level 72 and 1-under 71 over the three respective rounds for a total of 214 gross.

Meanwhile, Bulawayo Golf Club-based pro-Ignatius Mketekete also closed with a one-under-par round of 71 for a total of level-par-216.

Mketekete scored level par 72, 1-over 73 and 1-under 71 for a combined 216 in 54 holes to finish third.

Ryan Calrns, a seasoned Royal Harare-based professional, finished fourth on one-over-par 217.

Another Bulawayo-based professional Brian Gondo was a shot back in fifth position with 218.