Magala, Ntege favourite at fourth Entebbe Ladies Open
Magala is a favourite. PHOTO BY EDDIE CHICCO
What you need to know:
In the absence of the three past winners; Jasper Kamukama, Flavia Namakula and Iddi Madina Hussein, highly rated Monica Ntege and Eva Magala have a chance to win their first titles at the lakeside course.
Kampala.
With defending champion Tanzanian Idd Madina ruled out with an injury, local lady golfers will have a chance to win back the Castle Lite & Swivel Marketing Entebbe Ladies Open title that enters Day-Two this morning at the par-71 lakeside course in Entebbe.
The tournament has also been robbed of further star presence with Jasper Kamukama, Flavia Namakula and Irene Nakalembe not expected to be part of the competing field.
Kamukama is allegedly still on suspension from the game, Nakalembe is being held back by domestic obligations whereas Namakula is away in Nairobi preparing for next month’s Sanlam Championship in South Africa.
“I am unable to play in Entebbe,” Namakula confirmed via phone while tipping the travelling contingent of Tanzanians. “They (Tanzanians) have a huge chance. But you cannot rule out the local players as they are well aware of the conditions and have knowledge about the course.”
With the course dry and the greens superb, Eva Magala and Monica Ntege are two of the local stars fancied to hog the limelight.
Magala, though, has to shake off a shoulder injury if she is to avoid making numbers.
“I have been out of action for three months,” said Magala, who suffered the injury last November in Malaysia. “I have been swimming lately to gain fitness and I hope for a good outing.”
Magala will compete with over 105 players (60 local) and the subsidiary event shall be played tomorrow afternoon concurrently with the ladies’ second round.
According to tournament organizer and Entebbe captain Oscar Semawere, there will be prizes for the side best and subsidiary category that have been catered for by HTC Hub and Orange.
FORMER CHAMPIONS
2013: Idd Madina (Tanzania)
2012: Flavia Namakula (Uganda)
2011: Jasper Kamukama (Uganda)
WOMEN’S DAY SPECIAL
Started as a club event in 2011, the Entebbe Ladies Open has grown into one of the biggest events on the Uganda Ladies Golf Union (UGU) calendar.
Just last year, the Open attracted strong representation from Rwanda and Tanzania. Castle Lite (Shs18m), Spedag - Inter Freight (Shs3.5m), Swivel Marketing (Shs5m), HTC Hub and Orange are the co-sponsors of the fourth edition.
