Harare — Local professional golfers will have to wait a little longer before they get game time as the Net-One Pro-Am tournament which was supposed to tee off tomorrow has been postponed indefinitely.

The professionals were looking forward to playing the game in Bulawayo but the sponsors have announced the postponement. Most of the local professional golfers last played in a competitive event at the Africom Zimbabwe Open in April and are getting rusty.

NetOne spokesperson Rutendo Chabururuka said they would have to fix new dates.

"We have postponed the tournament forthwith. "We are still to sit down with the professional golfers president Akil Yousuf to find the alternative dates. "The tournament will have a fixed date and venue only after our meeting with ZPGA," said Chabururuka.

Yousuf said they were likely to meet their sponsors next week to make new arrangements for the competition. Following the postponement of the NetOne event, the professionals are now looking forward to the Joshua Nkomo Memorial tournament at Victoria Falls, which is scheduled for 8 and 9 August.

Yousuf earlier said the recent Fifa World Cup in South Africa had diverted much attention from golfing events. However, some of the professionals like Robson Saurombe and Tongo Charamba were taking part in amateur events to keep their swings and putt in shape.

It's likely that some of the professionals will be at Chapman Golf Club tomorrow where amateurs are playing in the fourth series of the Einsenhower Trophy qualifiers. The local amateurs will battle in a 54-hole event, which serves as a selection for the Eisenhower team. The United Nations are sponsoring the competition which tees off with 36 holes tomorrow and then 18 holes on Sunday.

Top amateurs like Rogers Jack, Dumi Chitengwa, Nyasha Muyambo, Clive Nguru (Jnr), Scott Vincent and Nabiweel Umeigy are expected at Chapman Umeigy is based in South African but is back home for the events to garner points on the Order of Merit so that he wins selection to the national team.

"I am very happy with last week's performance I hope this will go on tomorrow when I take to the field. "I give credit to practice I have been practicing since I came back from South Africa," said Umeigy. Chitengwa had been in blazing form recently but Umeigy has emerged to give him a strong challenge.

Vincent started the year well, winning everything on offer but has seen Chitengwa upstage him. But Vincent, who emerged as the best junior player at the African championships, can lay a strong challenge. Barry Painting is also going to exert pressure on the younger players.