West Nile dominate Golf Tour opening leg in Mbale
Strong start: The West Nile team were in terrific form in Mbale. Photo by Darren Kyeyune
Mbale. The revival of West Nile’s Arua Golf Club has gained an immense pump from its own members who are dominating proceedings at different club events.
West Nile bossed the talk at the clubhouse after winning the second leg of the Uganda Golf Tour (UGT) played at the nine-hole par-72 course at Mbale Sports Club on Saturday.
They polled 53 points to emerge best of 10 clubs that were represented in the 68-man field in the Castle Lite-sponsored countrywide series.
It turned out a perfect show for Arua with their own Patricia Nakuya and Geofrey ‘van’ Etoma emerging as the best players.
Nakuya carded 67 nett off handicap 25 while Etoma beat the men by returning 64 nett off handicap 24.
“I just played the course,” said Etoma who was introduced to the game by his best friend Hussein Alemiga, a national team player. “I had a very nice tee-shot but unfortunately went to the rough and I got a seven on par-4 Hole No.1,” Etoma narrated.
“So I told myself that I needed to hold it tight a bit. So I went on playing pars and kept it easy,” added the head teacher of Springs Nursery & Primary School in Arua. On the night, Mbale Club captain Paul Okiring stated that the field was the biggest at the venue in more than two decades.
“The Union has done a commendable job to bring the game here. But I would like to say, thank you very much,” he stated. Interestingly, Mbale did not score any points, Uganda Golf Union (UGU) urging them to increase the membership.
“Members of Mbale, you’re seated on a gold mine,” UGU president Innocent Kihika remarked.
“You need to start promoting golf locally here in Mbale so you can grow the club.
By the time we return next year, I challenge you to have brought in 50 new players,” added Kihika before announcing that 75 percent of the green fees will be staying in Mbale for development.
