Otile huffs as Bagumas lead at half-way stage

KAMPALA. Following two rounds, there is no better to describe this year’s Tusker Malt Uganda Amateur Golf Open than unpredictable at the par-72 course in Kitante. 

There is nothing happening pre-scripted after the Baguma namesakes Richard and Daniel, as well as Dennis Asaba, capitalised on defending champion Ronald Otile’s ‘huff and puff’ round on Day Two to go to top of the leaderboard yesterday. 

Otile, teeing-off last at 1pm, returned seven-over par 79 for his worst score at the Open since 2015. 

“I was unlucky with the second shot there,” Otile recalled while recovering from a water trench on No.15. Luckily, he’s still fourth and will be in the pressure group for Day Three today. 

Richard Baguma returned Day Two’s best score of one-over par 73 to lead the field by two strokes on 147 gross. 

“It is a good improvement,” said Baguma, a UPDF Private at Bombo Army Barracks. “I putted really well and I can do better.” 

He is followed by his namesake Daniel, the South Africa-based player who bettered his Day One score by a stroke to return 74 for an aggregate of 149 gross. “I am excited to be second but it can get better,” he said. 

Asaba, who carded 74 for 150 gross, is third to complete the Tooro-bred pressure group. “I must improve my putting,” he said. The subsidiary category joins the fray today on a highly anticipated day codenamed ‘Moving Friday’.

UGANDA GOLF OPEN

DAY TWO LEADERBOARD

1 Richard Baguma (UGA) 74 73 147

2 Daniel Baguma (UGA) 75 74 149

3 Dennis Asaba (UGA) 76 74 150

4 Ronald Otile (UGA) 72 79 151

T5 Herman Mutebi (UGA) 76 76 152

T5 Joseph Mawejje (UGA) 75 77 152

T5 Ismail Mahmood (UGA) 74 78 152

T8 Andrew Chelogoi (KEN) 80 73 153

T8 Paul Muchangi (KEN) 76 77 153

T8 Alloys Nsabimana (RWA) 78 75 153