UNITED States based Bruce McDonald was the best placed local at the Old Mutual Zimbabwe Open Golf Championship at Royal Harare Thursday.

McDonald came to the event as an invitee and had a good show after he opened his campaign with a decent score which will give him confidence ahead of Friday’s decisive round.

McDonald will tee off in the morning in Friday’s round which proved favorable in Thursday’s round where JC Ritchie was never dislodged at the top of the leaderboard having played in the morning and carding six-under.

Also in the mix is the duo of Ryan Cairns and recently graduated professional Robson Chinhoi who managed a level par score.

Cairns is always one to watch on his home course, and it’s even more of a home to him now that he has moved back to Zimbabwe, works out of the club, and, presumably, gets more play on it than he has over the past few years when he spent most of his time in South Africa.

His recent form is encouraging, with a 12th place finish last week in Zambia at the Zanaco Masters.

That will give him much more to work with than his 2017-18 Sunshine Tour season, as will some enthusiastic and vociferous hometown support will rally behind him.

Cairns said he is happy with his performance and looks forward to today’s second and qualifying round.

“I managed to birdie the last two holes to finish level. I am not upset at all I am happy with how it finished up it was not playing very easy.

“I am looking forward to tomorrow I have always liked to play at this course and having 30 local players against 126 foreigners gives us a good challenge. We have good players to look forward to Bruce McDonald who is based in the States, Mark Williams, Steven Ferreira as well as amateur David Amm who are capable,” said Cairns.

Cairns did not disappoint after yesterday’s opening round where he carded a level par 72 which gives him a good chance to make the cut today.