Difonzo wins special Lady Captain’s Prize

KAMPALA.

Newly-elected Uganda Golf Club (UGC) ladies section captain Dr Kate Kabenge didn’t steal the limelight. She didn’t have to! Instead she was one of the night’s many shining stars as Maria Difonzo won the NTV/Aqua Sipi co-sponsored Lady Captain’s Prize tournament by one stroke on Saturday.

With the 19th hole packed to the rafters and a bevy of lady golfers elegantly dressed, outgoing captain Aggie Asiimwe Konde and new boss Kabenge tried to outdo each other without even knowing and if there was a judge, it would have been a beautiful stalemate.

Difonzo took the plaudits for the best round of the day after stroking 69 nett to subject hard working Rose Azuba (winner Group B) and expatriate Wei Jie (winner Group C) to joint second on 70 nett.

“First of all I thank my good friend Aggie (Konde),” remarked 20-handicapper Difonzo after she received her trophy and a 32-inch TV from guest of honour Dr Simon Kagugube.

“I didn’t start well but I kept improving hole by hole. By No.6, I had two pars and even when I hit the trees on No.7, I recovered with a par there. It was then that I started writing my victory speech. At times I made mistakes and thought I was losing it but this win is to honour you Aggie.”
Such was the night, everyone that was given the microphone by the Master of Ceremonies, Anne Abeja Muhwezi, hailed Konde for helping lift the ladies’ game by putting more ladies’ tournaments in place, re-inventing the ladies night and attracting more generous sponsors.

But the NTV General Manager, who served two one-year terms, didn’t allow to solely soak in all the salutations.
“I didn’t do this alone,” said the affable Konde, who also received a portrait of her chipping out of a bunker in Bermuda by her former executive committee members.

“I had a team of five strong ladies behind me. It’s been quite a journey. The biggest challenge was to attract sponsors but we did our best. We promised to promote our ladies by taking them for international events and we did in Bermuda and Malaysia.”

Kabenge vowed to keep the candle burning. “It is a challenge to take the mantle after Aggie,” acknowledged Konde, winner of last two events who scooped the Nearest to the Pin prize this time round.

“I feel the shoes are big but whatever the circumstances, the bible in Romans 13:1 says that all authority comes from above and we’ll do our best.”

Overall winner
Maria Difonzo 69 nett

Group A
Flavia Namakula 71 c/b nett
Gloria Mbaguta 71 c/b
Esther Okullo ` 74

Group B
Rose Azuba 70 nett
Jovia Otim 72
Jolly Karemera 76

Group C
Wei Jie 70 nett
Anne Ngabo 74 c/b
Brenda Ngabo 74

Longest Drive
M: Peter Mujuni
W: Gloria Mbaguta

Nearest to the Pin
M: Gideon Kagyenzi
W: Kate Kabenge

SUBSIDIARY CATEGORY
Gross winners
M: Willy Kitata 72
W: Monica Ntege 80

Guest winners
M: Gideon Kagyenzi 69 nett
W: Annet Kiconco 72

Group winners (men)
A: Francis Ngabo 68 nett
B: Sam Nahamya 70
C: Sam Tulya 68

Professionals – Top 4
Deo Akope 71
Brian Mwesigwa 73
Saidi Mawa 74
Opio Onito 74
Dennis Anguyo 74

Best caddies
M: Farouk Issa 68 nett
W: Hadijah Nampijja 66