Ugandan golfer Kitata to play US Open pre-qualifier tournament
Kitata (left) receiving the Uganda Open trophy from the then Uganda Golf Union president Kiwanuka Kiryowa (right) at Kitante in 2014. PHOTO By Eddie Chicco
KAMPALA.
It is now almost a year since Willy Deus Kitata headed for golf’s paid ranks in the USA.
He quietly settled in Florida, playing seven tournaments and making the cut on five occasions.
Under the guise of coach Vern McMillan, his best finish was an overall fourth place at the Park Ridge Open.
And now, Kitata will aim to become the first Ugandan ever to feature at a golf major when plays in the US Open pre-qualifier tournament early next week. The 25-year-old will be part of the 142-man field that will grace one-day Florida State Golf Association event at the par-72 Wanderers Golf Club in Wellington on Monday.
“I am grateful to have another opportunity like this one,” said the 2014 Uganda Amateur Open champion via phone from his base in the Sunshine State yesterday.
He is pitted alongside Jordan Elsen and Patrick Rada for the event whose top 40 players on the leaderboard will advance to the national qualifier scheduled for June 6-10 at the Lake Merced Golf & Country Club in California. “The competition is really tight but I have to focus if I’m to get the big prize,” Kitata said.
Only the best 30 players from California will have made it to the 116th U.S. Open due June 16-19 at the par-70 Oakmont Country Club in Plum, Pennsylvania.
“It is a long route but very important for me as making the cut would put me closer to securing a PGA Tour card.” he added.
Kitata is one of the 9,877 entrants worldwide.
