Ladies win Singleton

L-R: Entebbe Club chairman Tumbweine Twinemanzi, UBL Managing Director Mark Ocitti and Entebbe Captain Edwin Tumusiime (right) hoist the trophy with winners Peace Kabasweka and Sheila Kesiime after action on par-4 Hole No.18 on Saturday evening.t. Photo by Eddie Chicco

KAMPALA- The many perceptions that surround the game of golf can’t fade off in a day.

Often, ladies play second fiddle on course but that was put to bed after Peace Kabasweka and Sheila Kesiime became the first-ever female pairing to win the Entebbe Singleton Golf Match Play Challenge tournament on Saturday.

And no better way to celebrate for the pairing than fit in perfectly as Uganda’s golf witnessed one of the most glamorous 19th hole prize giving ceremonies at the Entebbe Cricket Oval outfield.

During the inaugural Singleton Challenge edition last year, Moureen Okura and Irene Nakalembe was the last standing female pairing at the last 16 stage.

But on Saturday, Kesiime and Kabasweka surpassed all expectations to beat Paul Kaheru and Uganda Golf Club captain Joseph Bagabo 2-up on the par-4 Hole No.18 to emerge champions of the arguably best-ever clubhouse event supported by DStv, Lake Victoria Serena Hotel, Pinnacle Security, Victoria Motors, Ekspresso and RwandAir.

“We are excited,” Kabasweka told Daily Monitor moments after the pairing had received their dummy ticket from RwandAir to the Race to Dubai tourney that will be played at the luxurious Jumeirah Golf Courses in UAE come November.

The triumph prompted Uganda Breweries (UBL) Managing Director Mark Ocitti to toast with the elegant audience.
“We (UBL) usually pass ourselves as neutrals but I am very proud Sheila and Peace have delivered. This is not only a men’s challenge but you can beat them at the game,” Ocitti said.

On their way to and at the podium, Kesiime and Kabasweka were accompanied by Kool & The Gang’s Celebrations and later Right Fred Said’s Stand Up for the Champions before Eddie Yawe and Afrigo Band took it away and indeed, all deserved.

On course, they had trailed Kaheru and Bagabo 3-down after par-4 Hole No.3 but fought back and were all square after par-3 Hole No.6.

“It is a great achievement and record of 2018,” she said. “We trained hard and practised twice a week on this Entebbe course,” she added.

Then Kabasweka and Kesiime led 1-up on par-5 No.7 and par-3 No.10 but got pegged back on the subsequent holes.

Kaheru and Bagabo would lead on par-4 No.14 but when the ladies levelled on par-3 No.16, they never looked back. “The ladies were steady. They capitalized on every mistake we made,” Kaheru would say.

2018 EBB SINGLETON CHALLENGE
AMATEURS : FINAL
Sheila Kesiime & Peace Kabasweka bt.
Paul Kaheru & Joseph Bagabo 2-up
3RD-PLACE
Eva Magala & Irene Nakalembe bt.
Joseph Mawejje & Charles Mubiru 1-up (s/d)
PROS : FINAL
Herman Mutawe bt. Silver Opio 2/1
3RD-PLACE
Ronald Bukenya bt. Saidi Mawa 2/1
SINGLETON AWARDS
BEST DRESSED ON COURSE
M: Moses Matsiko
L: Peace Kabasweka
19TH HOLE AWARDS
Best Dressed on 19th Hole
M: Micheal Mone
L: Maureen Okura
PAIRING OF THE SEASON
Eva Magala & Irene Nakalembe
SINGLETON AWARD
Kiryowa Kiwanuka