Serena course exposes Ugandan professionals

A Few Good Men. Kasozi is one of the five Ugandans that will have a share of the Shs184m cash pot.
PHOTO BY EDDIE CHICCO

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The chances for any Ugandan are automatically slim as only three local pros Abraham Ainamani, Phillip Kasozi and in-form twin Opio Onito made the cut for the $50000 (Shs183m) purse at the Lake Victoria Serena Resort & Spa on Thursday.

The local gallery may need big miracle to witness a native triumph at the 14th Castle Lite Uganda Professionals Golf Open which wraps up today.
The chances for any Ugandan are automatically slim as only three local pros Abraham Ainamani, Phillip Kasozi and in-form twin Opio Onito made the cut for the $50000 (Shs183m) purse at the Lake Victoria Serena Resort & Spa on Thursday.
“I am looking for a position now,” Kasozi described his mission for the final rounds. Kasozi is only Ugandan to make the cut at all his five appearances in the Pros Open.
He came seventh on his debut in 2015, tied eighth in 2016, tied 12th in 2017 and also tied 28th in 2018.
It is a drastic decline compared to last year where 16 locals made the cut in Entebbe with Denis Anguyo and Happy Robert tying in fourth. The Castle Lite Uganda Open is the only third platform that local pros have had a chance to pursue money this year, they have been largely inactive and if lucky, some have sought refuge at events in neighbouring countries.
“The corporates are also struggling and are not putting in much. Those tournaments to talk about most are Series,” says Deo Akope who is part of the Uganda Professional Golfers’ Association (UPGA). Prior to the Open, most pros like Akope, Kasozi, Onito, Abbey Bagalana, Becca Mwanja and Anguyo featured at the first leg of the Kenya Safari Tour at Nyali Club in Mombasa a fortnight ago. Only Onito made the cut there. Kasozi had earlier in March, become the first Ugandan to play on the PGA European Tour via the Kenya Open before playing the Zambia Open, Zanaco Masters and Karen Masters.
The duo’s results are no surprise in Kigo. The Uganda Open became a Safari Tour event, inevitably placing inactive Ugandan pros in line with a very competitive class and the results show.
“For this (Uganda Open), I have made mistakes because of lack of competition,” Kasozi explained.
Day One leader South African Thato Mazibuko is a regular on the Sunshine Tour and so is Day Two leader 2015 winner Zambian Muthiya Madalisto. Akope disagrees with the Open joining the Safari Tour. “The Uganda Open is bigger,” the 2006 and 2014 champion says. “You can’t equate a Safari Tour event where they pay $10000 (Shs37m) per event to the Uganda Open which is growing at $50000 (Shs185m).
“We (UPGA) only got to know when Uganda Golf Union president Innocent Kihika said he had had a discussion with Kenya Golf Union to add the Open to the Tour,” he added. UPGA will need to think aloud on how to build a busy calendar in case their pros are to compete favourably at the ensuing events or else, Uganda’s pro golf faces a stern test.
2019 CASTLE LITE UGANDA PROS OPEN

NUMBERS AFTER CUT
Kenya: 13
Zimbabweans: 5
Ugandans: 5 (2 Amateurs)
South Africans: 3
Zambians: 2
Nigeria: 2
Senegal: 1