Okiru, Osekeny master resilience in Entebbe Challenge
Casper Okiru (L) and his playing partner Ronald Osekeny celebrate after qualifying to round four of the Entebbe Stanbic Match play Challenge. PHOTOS/EDDIE CHICCO
What you need to know:
The hug between the two handicap 17 players Osekeny and Okiru at the 18th green calibrated their relief. Their fight puts them three matches away from the coveted title.
The pairing of Casper Tevin Okiru and Ronald Osekeny nearly exited the Entebbe Match-play Challenge championship last month.
Somehow, Osekeny pulled off a miracle against the ladies Jackie Kamunyu and Berna Musanabera to force a sudden-death (s/d) play-off in the second round knock-out competition on April 12.
However, they couldn’t return to par-5 Hole No.1 because Okiru complained of bad light and he couldn’t see. The two pairings returned days later and the men advanced at Hole No.1.
And Okiru and Osekeny’s fighting spirit still lives. On Saturday, they needed to put up another mark of resilience before disarming Tony Ojok and Thomas Niwamara 1-up at the last 16 stage of the Match-play Challenge.
“The Challenger spirit had to come in especially when we came to Holes No.15 up to No.18,” a happy Okiru told this paper.
Ojok and Niwamara led 1-up after the par-4 Hole No.14. “Due to their stroke advantage, I told my partner we had to win No.15 and it was luck, we won it,” Okiru stated.
Osekeny made a par at the par-3 Hole No.16 while Ojok and Niwamara posted bogeys giving the former advantage, all the way to the finish.
The hug between the two handicap 17 players Osekeny and Okiru at the 18th green calibrated their relief. Their fight puts them three matches away from the coveted title.
Yet, such had been the day as six of the day’s eight matches played the entire course out including two s/d play-off contests, Steven Kitamirike and Charles Kabunga winning on the second hole against Horace Rwakabureete and Jamil Maningi.
And Picole Lukyamuzi and Henry Nsubuga eliminated Andrew Kibaya and Edward Kabuchu 2/1 (2-up with a hole to spare). The day’s biggest winners were Richard Mugisha and Louis Tumukunde who beat David Mpanga and Phillip Walera 3/2.
The 2023 champions Saidi Kirarira and Richard Mucunguzi too edged out Yunus Bbaale and Anthony Agaba 1-up and so was Kiryowa Kiwanuka and Elly Mukasa who ejected handicap 17 duo James O’Sullivan and Greg Patterson 1-up as well.
“It was a tough game,” said handicap 16 player Mukasa, who was the match’s back marker. “A sensational game, it was a game of sessions and the final hole determined the game,” said the nicknamed Sober, not ruling out complacency.
Saidi Kirarira.
Kiwanuka and Mukasa were 2-up after par-3 Hole No.3, O’Sullivan and Patterson fought therein to win Holes par-4 No.4 and par-3 No.6.
Kiwanuka then calmly won Holes par-5 No.7 and par-3 No.8 to take it to 3-up but the lead got wiped out on the next three holes before the pairings squared the next six holes.
It came down to Mukasa who birdied the 18th green and O’Sullivan conceded after he missed his own shorter birdie-putt at the red flag.
Despite not turning up with his partner Lloyd Busuulwa, Milton Edimu hung on but eventually had his mettle broken by Kin Kariisa and John Basabose 2-up.
“We should have won by No.10 but we didn’t play our best golf,” said handicap seven player Kariisa. “I concur,” Basabose noted.
Meanwhile, husband Ellis Katwebaze and wife Evelyne Atukunda triumphed over Alex Mukasa and James Orima 1-up via the s/d at the first green.
“It was a mentally challenging round. There were so many bets people had put on us,” said Atukunda, who was the match’s back marker.
The tournament’s quarterfinals come up on June 14.
ENTEBBE MATCH-PLAY CHALLENGE
ROUND THREE RESULTS
Saidi Kirarira & Richard Mucunguzi bt. Yunus Bbaale & Anthony Agaba 1-up
Evelyne Atukunda & Ellis Katwebaze bt. Alex Mukasa & James Orima 1-up (s/d)
Kin Kariisa & John Basabose bt. Milton Edimu & Lloyd Busuulwa 2-up
Kiryowa Kiwanuka & Elly Mukasa bt. James O’Sullivan & Greg Patterson 1-up
Casper Okiru & Ronald Osekeny bt. Tony Ojok & Thomas Niwamara 1-up
Richard Mugisha & Louis Tumukunde bt. David Mpanga & Phillip Walera 3/2
Picole Lukyamuzi & Henry Nsubuga bt. Andrew Kibaya & Edward Kabuchu 2/1
Steven Kitamirike & Charles Kabunga bt. Horace Rwakabureete & Jamil Maningi 1-up (s/d)
QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UP
Saidi Kirarira & Richard Mucunguzi vs. Kin Kariisa & John Basabose
Evelyne Atukunda & Ellis Katwebaze vs. Kiryowa Kiwanuka & Elly Mukasa
Picole Lukyamuzi & Henry Nsubuga vs. Casper Okiru & Ronald Osekeny
Richard Mugisha & Louis Tumukunde vs. Steven Kitamirike & Charles Kabunga
