Odokonyero chasing treble
Odokonyero tracking the flight of his shot. Photo Eddie Chicco
JINJA- The cast of former Eskom Open winners is one of elite golfers that have not only won international honours in national colours but also gone on to scale the heights as professionals on the regional circuit.
From Deo Akope, Willy Kitata, Herman Mutawe, Dennis Anguyo, Fred Wanzala to national captain Adolf Muhumuza, the roll of honour pinned inside Jinja Golf Club (JGC) clubhouse is not short of class.
But as the tourney’s eighth edition tees off this morning at the par-72 JGC course with the country’s top amateurs playing alongside the local professionals for the top prizes and a Shs8m kitty respectively, one man won’t need motivation.
Ian Odonkonyero, the back-to-back winner for the last two editions, is chasing a hat-trick of successive titles – a feat no one has attained. “I have been working so hard on the range and I have home advantage. I know what to do to record a hat-trick,” said the towering Odokonyero.
“If I return the same scores (four-under-par 140 after 36 holes) like last year, I know I will be champion again.”
Odokonyero must not only adapt to the course that soaked in the rains for the first time in a long while yesterday but must also be wary of rookie professional Phillip Kasozi, long hitter Anguyo and 2010 winner Akope.
Amateur holder Ronald Otile faces a bigger task when he lines up against fellow national stars Muhumuza, Ronald Bukenya and homeboy Grace Kasango.
Eskom Uganda Limited have injected Shs100m into the annual event with the subsidiary invitation-only category taking center-stage tomorrow with a field of at least 160 players.
