Harare — Ten local professional golfers are in Zambia to take part in the Investtrust Pro- Am Zambia Open, whose qualifier tees off this morning at Ndola golf course in Lusaka.

The golfers are expected to compete against 132 other participants from across the continent who have indicated their availability. Most local golfers will play the pro-am qualifiers and those who make the cut will take part in the main event on Friday. Zimbabwean Mark Cayeux, winner of two titles at the same tournament, will be one of the major drawcards.

Cayeux won the Open in 1998 and 2002 and will tee off at 10:50 hours with those playing the pre-qualifiers to have a feel of the greens. Despite coming a distant 21 at the Origins of Business tournament last week, Cayeux was upbeat about his and the local players' chances. Also playing in the Investrust Pro-Am will be regular competitor Adilson da Silva of Brazil who enters this year's Zambia Open carrying a fine result from the Vodacom Origins of Business held last week in South Africa where he finished second.

Defending champion who also won the Zimbabwe Open titleholder Jbe Kruger of South Africa is also expected to take part. The other local professionals expected to tee off are Mike Curtis, Robson Saurombe, Tongo Charamba, Mohammad Rauf Mandhu, Ryan Cairns, Ignatius Mketekete, Sean Farrell, Darren Bismark, Trynos Muradzikwa and Anyway Katembenuka

With most of the locals failing to take part on the Sunshine tour because of lack of sponsorship, the tournament in Zambia provides them with a platform to compete.