Asaba wants Rugumayo’s trophy at Mayombo Open

KAMPALA.

Fresh from the Zone V Africa Golf Championships in Zambia, where Uganda finished a rather disappointing sixth, Tooro Golf Club (TGC) teenage golfer Denis Asaba wants to make amends by winning the Mayombo Open this weekend.

The 10th edition tees off tomorrow at the par-70 Tooro Golf Club course, where players from Uganda Golf Club (UGC), Entebbe and Mbarara among others have confirmed participation according to the hosts captain, Andrew Biryabalema.

And 18-year-old Asaba, one of the ever emerging talents from Tooro, wants to make it count by going for defending champion Ronald Rugumayo’s title.

“In Zambia the rough disturbed us but at home I hope to do better,” Asaba, also last year’s Mukwano Open winner, told Daily Monitor yesterday. “Here the greens are a bit slow but the fairways are good. So I will go for it. My tee shot is good and my putting has improved.”

Rugumayo, 2016 and 2012 Mayombo Open winner, is, however, adamant Asaba will have to do a whole lot more to dethrone him. “I must defend my title,” vowed Rugumayo, “And whoever wants it will have to beat me.

“All the boys are good… Cwinyaai (Joseph), Asaba, David (Kamulindwa)… and on a good day they can beat you.
“Asaba, I think he is still used to the fast greens in Zambia yet ours are now slow, and Cwinyaai has not had the best of putting in practice matches.

“They are all good but everything has been coming together for me in practice and I feel in great form,” added the man who was beaten in a sudden death play-off by Ronald Otile in the Venus Open early this year.

Mayombo Open, which is still struggling for sponsorship – with this edition being helped on by the family of the man it was named after and TGC, is annually played in Fort Portal in memory of the late Brigadier Noble Mayombo, who died in 2007.

Past four winners

2016: Ronald Rugumayo
2015: Ronald Bukenya
2014: Daniel Baguma
2013: Lawrence Muhenda