Otile smashes own record on Day Three of Uganda Open

Ronald Otile. Photo by Innocent Ndawula

What you need to know:

  • He fell short by two strokes but in playing four-under, he thrust himself back into contention and is now well within sight of the trophy.
  • But it won’t be easy against the Kenyan pair of Njoroge and Njogu, which has alternated leadership of the Open over the three days.

A day after setting a course record of 68 at the par-72 Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort at Kigo, Ronald Otile went one better by lowering it to six-under 66 on the third day of the Castle Lite Uganda Open.

Otile is continuing to defy critics who wrote him off after a poor ten-over 82 on Wednesday.

Going into the final round of the Open on Saturday, Otile is just three shots behind leader Samuel Njoroge of Kenya. Another Kenyan, Simon Njogu, is second.

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Njoroge leads on 213 strokes after three rounds with Njoroge on 215 and Otile 216. A third Kenyan, Daniel Nduva, is tied for third with Otile on 216.

Holder Otile’s record saw him play an eagle, six birdies and nine pars before a gallery that was stunned with exhilaration.

Otile will be chasing a fourth Ugandan Open title and on current form, few would bet against him.

He is at his most dangerous when chasing and a partisan gallery will be in full force at Kigo on Saturday to throw its weight behind him.

Clearly Otile thrives under a weight of expectation.

Victory for him would seal one of the most unlikely comebacks after a disastrous opening round left him 13 shots off the pace and seemingly out of contention.

But Otile was not downbeat, and he promised whoever cared to listed that he would play a 66 on Thursday.

He fell short by two strokes but in playing four-under, he thrust himself back into contention and is now well within sight of the trophy.

But it won’t be easy against the Kenyan pair of Njoroge and Njogu, which has alternated leadership of the Open over the three days.

Njogu led the opening two rounds before ceding to Njoroge, who shot a superb 68.

Nduva, like Otile, is also only three shots off the leadership and will be lurking.

DAY THREE LEADERBOARD

Samuel Njoroge     73  72   68     - 213

Simon Njogu          69   71   71     - 215

Ronald Otile           82   68   66     - 216

Daniel Nduva         75   70   71     - 216

Joseph Cwinyaai   76   73   72     - 221

Denis Asaba           76   75   72     - 223

Peter Mwangi        71   76   76     - 223

Michael Kisia          76   75   73     - 224

Zubair Khan            75   74   75     - 224

Joseph Victor         75   76   74     - 225

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