Namakula hopes Open win gets her sponsors

KAMPALA. If it were a boxing contest, Flavia Namakula should have been declared champion on hole No.15 after she increased her lead from two to three strokes.
It was then that the UPDF Sergeant upped the tempo of her game and extinguished the battle as a two-horse race for the 62nd Tusker Malt Uganda Ladies Open title.
Namakula increased her lead to four shots on the par-4 16th and no one could live with her anymore as she put the finishing touches by notching the Longest Drive accolade with a hard slog that landed just a couple of yards from the 18th green.
From second on Day One to joint-leader with Magala on Day Two, the 29-year-old had shown her militaristic never-say-die antics as she completed a remarkable comeback for her fourth and back-to-back title.
Her final putt was followed by a trademark right-hand fist pump before she removed her PING cap to spread out her arms in celebration. A couple of hugs with her playing partners followed with one particular priceless embrace from Alice Kego - the legendary 12-time winner of the Ladies Open.
“This is good for my career,” said Namakula after being crowned champion at the 18th green on Saturday evening. “This is my best Open title because the challenge has been tough and the course was even tougher,” said the golfing soldier.

Added Namakula: “Eva (Magala) and Irene (Nakalembe) are good players and they gave me a tough challenge throughout. But I was confident and stayed focused. When I woke up, I told myself that I should try and win. I wasn’t going to look on and succumb to defeat without a fight.”
“But overall I thank God for the win and hopefully it will help me attract more sponsors as I seek to play more tournaments abroad.”
National team star Magala, despite being four-strokes off the pace by No.7 at 12-over, kept the chase for her maiden title in sight by leveling the scores at No.13.
And with the gallery building momentum as they fancied an upset, Magala immediately played the favour right back into Namakula’s hands with a double-bogey on No.13. That was the end of Magala’s fight as she went through her final holes like a mere obligation. “I am happy with my effort,” defiant in defeat, Magala, said. “I have a few issues to work on my game. I am going to continue playing on a daily basis because this tournament has given me belief that maybe one day, I will win the Open.”
The second of the five-in-one Open climaxes this evening as more than 50 elderly golfers battle for honours in the Seniors Open at the par-72 Kitante course.

LEADERBOARD - TOP 5
Flavia Namakula (UGA) 229
Eva Magala (UGA) 233
Irene Nakalembe (UGA) 239
Loice Chingono (ZIM) 241
Tina Nawa (ZAM) 245

Day winners
1st 18: Gloria Mbaguta 79
2nd 18: Melon Kyomugisha 80
3rd 18: Harriet Kitaka 80
NETT WINNERS
Lim Mi Sung (KOR) 200 nett
Wayua Mululu (KEN) 209
Prudence Nimukama (UGA) 210
Lydia Mutesi (UGA) 212
Esther Okullo (UGA) 215
Shiela Kesiime (UGA) 216 c/b
LONGEST DRIVE
Flavia Namakula
Nearest to the Pin
Gloria Mbaguta
SUBSIDIARY - 36 HOLES
Gross: John Mugyenzi 161 gross
Nett: Fred Kimbugwe 138 nett

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