UGC lead inaugural 2019 Uganda Open Tour first leg

Super Launch. Uganda Golf Union used to the colourful first leg to officially show off the 2019 Trophy. PHOTO: E. CHICCO

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Super Launch. Uganda Golf Union used to the colourful first leg to officially show off the 2019 Trophy. PHOTO: E. CHICCO

KAMPALA. Uganda Golf Union (UGU) officials wore faces of satisfied gentlemen after the Uganda Golf Tour was launched with the first leg at the Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort in Kigo on Saturday.

UGU president Innocent Kihika offered a couple of handshakes while his subordinates exchanged pleasantries on a day that Uganda Golf Club beat other teams after a busy day on the par-72 water-filled course.

UGU tallied 73 points to assume an assailable lead of the eight-leg Tour. Entebbe polled 19, West Nile had 18 with Tooro Club on 10 points. Hosts Serena Kigo and Palm Valley tallied five apiece.

Individually, it is still UGC that produced the best player with Charles Odere returning 69 nett off handicap 18.
Lillian Koowe carded 71 nett off handicap 24 on the day UGU unveiled its sponsors for the Tour and the Uganda Golf Open that comes in September at Kigo.

“It is my honour and pleasure to welcome you the greatest show,” said Kihika at the new-look 19th hole at Kigo before announcing sponsors Nile Breweries’ brand Castle Lite, Pepsi, Barclays Bank, Minet, Britam, Timecop Security and Serena Hotels.
“This year, we will continue with our tradition of adding something new to our golf bonanza,” he remarked.
“This morning and afternoon, we had a taste of the course that will be our venue for the Uganda Open. (With the Tour) We are looking at six consecutive months of golf at eight different courses before we tee-off the Open,” he added.

The Open is set to attract players from Botswana, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Africa, Malawi, Nigeria, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and USA.

Kihika announced that Ronald Otile will be allowed by his school in North Carolina to return home and defend his Uganda Amateur Open title.
The Tour heads to Mbale this weekend.