Golf
Perfect Christmas gift for Rugumayo
Rugumayo (R) after winning the Day One 18 holes Best Gross prize on Day One of the 2011 Uganda Open. The Tooro-based golfer also won the Longest Drive prize then but it was his last time at the podium.
In Summary
Golf. Rugumayo helped Tooro win the inaugural Inter Club Golf Championship in 2009 held at the par-72 Kitante course. He won both his singles matches 3-up and 7-up. In the doubles, he paired with Titus Okwang and they pulled off a famous 4-up shock win over Grace Onito Ochieng and Ian Odokonyero of Jinja.
No one is bigger than the game. It has seen gentle great giants like Seve Ballesteros (RIP) come and go. But long after they are gone, the game has thrived on and youngster Ronald Rugumayo exactly knows that now.
The Fort Portal-based golfer was, yesterday, given an unexpected Christmas gift when Tooro Golf Club (TGC) pardoned him for his indiscipline acts. TGC course member Milton Othieno levied a one-year ban on Rugumayo on July 30 but cut short the suspension after just five months.
“Thanks for your prayers. I spoke with the course member (Othieno) and we solved our misunderstandings,” disclosed the 20-year-old national amateur star soon after learning of his official pardon.
“I am now back. I have just played a round and I shot three-over-par. I start serious training after Christmas. I missed the game a lot especially the East African Challenge Trophy and Uganda Amateur Open.”
Close sources to Rugumayo revealed that the youngster had allegedly ‘grown wings’ and failed to do his duties as an Artisan member more than once which prompted Othieno to wave his authoritative wand.
Lessons learned
“It has been hard for me to stay away from the game. I have learned many lessons while away and I have made a promise to myself that I will not only be a better player but a good person as well,” vowed the affable golfer who made a national team debut in April 2010 during the Africa Zone VI Golf Championship in Malawi. With Uganda poised to raid Kenya in pursuit of the East Africa Challenge Trophy and Africa Zone VI title Championship next year, the timing for Rugumayo’s reprieve couldn’t have been better.
“I thank my sponsor Anderson O.H, TGC captain Ramesh Ferosh, chairman Bob Asiimwe, Tooro members and my teammates…most especially Willy Kitata, Abbey Bagalana and captain Phillip Kasozi who kept pleading for me all this time.
“I will work hard to reclaim my position on the national team so that I don’t disappoint them. I am so happy and wish everybody a Merry Xmas and Happy New Year.”
indawula@ug.nationmedia.com
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