In-form Rugumayo unhappy despite bagging Entebbe Open

Rugamayo gives his victory speech after clinching his maiden Entebbe Open at the weekend. PHOTO BY EDDIE CHICCO

What you need to know:

  • Amongst the pros, it is home boy Vincent Byamukama who took the biggest purse of the Shs10m kitty after returning 142 with rounds of 69 and 73.

KAMPALA. ‘Keep Calm, I am a Ninja’ are the big bold words that greet your eyes at the sight of Ronald Rugumayo’s red sweater.
That is the what he chose to wear as he was crowned as the Castle Lite Entebbe Golf Open champion at the weekend. Of course, he is not a covert agent but a ninja.
Yes, Rugumayo’s act on the course is totally new ever since his classy putting saw him edge holder Ronald Otile to claim the Uganda Amateur Open title in September.

If 19th out of 60 players at the All-Africa Team Golf Championships in Zambia was bad, then third overall at the Kenya Amateur Stroke-play Championship was a reminder of his form last month.
And when clinched the Kinyara Open title in Masindi a week before Entebbe, the lion in Rugumayo is roaring loud and it is only right to aim higher.
“I am planning to join the pros soon,” Rugumayo told Daily Monitor after carding rounds of 70 and 80 to tally 150 gross in Entebbe. His friend Abraham Ainamani came second with 152 gross after identical rounds of 76.

“But the fact is that I am not happy with my scores,” he said. Why? “With such a score, it is nothing when you play with the pros.”
On Day One, Rugumayo was solid with 15 pars, two birdies and a bogey but it is Day Two on Saturday that saw him struggle with seven bogeys and just pars at the par-71 course.
“I missed all the fairways with the driver but I have got to improve my game if I am to join the big men (pros).” the Fort Portal-bred player added.
Amongst the pros, it is home boy Vincent Byamukama who took the biggest purse of the Shs10m kitty after returning 142 with rounds of 69 and 73.