Baguma, Mawa castle Onito Memorial crowns
Baguma receiving his trophy from Castle Lite’s Julian Ssentamu. PHOTO BY EDDIE CHICCO
What you need to know:
Golf. The two youngsters produced individual spells of brilliance with 11 birdies apiece over 36 holes to win the event played in the memory of Sadi Onito and Charles Yokwe
JINJA.
The annual Castle Lite Onito Memorial Golf Championship was started to commemorate the life of the late Sadi Onito and his son Charles Yokwe.
During his lifetime, Onito claimed a record 12 Uganda amateur Open titles while his son won two.
One could argue that there is no golfer in the current generation who will ever threaten Onito’s feat.
But at the ninth edition of the Castle Lite Onito Memorial Open, two youngsters provided specks of what Onito was like on course.
Teenager Daniel Baguma and Saidi Mawa produced 11 birdies apiece over two rounds (36 holes) as the pair emerged amateur and professional winners at the par-72 Jinja Golf Club course on Friday.
“This is a great way to start the year,” a delighted Baguma told Daily Monitor before picking his trophy and prize at the glitzy-filled awards ceremony on Saturday night.
Four-over
The 19-year-old finished on four-over for his only second career title after the 2013 Mukwano Open title.
“The two rounds were interesting. All I did was to try and keep my ball on the fairway and hit the greens successively,” he added.
Like Baguma, who peeled away from chasing pack of brothers Adolf Muhumuza and Lawrence Muhenda, homeboy Mawa, too, had a similar script with six birdies in the first round and five in the other for an aggregate of 140 after 36 holes.
“I had prepared well right from the festive season,” the calm player said after collecting the biggest chunk of the staked Shs7m cash kitty.
A minute of silence was held to remember the late Onito and Yokwe. And later on the night, Onito’s widow and family were given Shs4m by Castle Lite brand manager Julian Ssentamu.
“All we can say is thank you to all golfers and Nile Breweries for this,” late Onito’s emotional son Elvis told the gathering.
CAST OF WINNERS
Gross category
Daniel Baguma 71 74 145
Adolf Muhumuza 72 76 148
Lawrence Muhenda 74 75 149
Group winners (men)
A: Ronald Otim 41 points
B: Edgar Adrabo 37 c/b
C: Edwin Museme 41
Group winners (ladies)
A: Evelyn Asiimwe 40 points
B: Lilian Kikira 45
Professionals
Saidi Mawa 69 71 140
Brian Toolit 70 73 143
Silver Opio 72 73 145
