Show of elites, professionals at Absa Pro-Am
Absa MD Mumba Kalifungwa (R) will play alongside Uganda Golf Club captain Emmanuel Wamala (C) and Kenyan pro Mutahi Kibugu in Tuesday's coveted Pro-Am. PHOTO/COURTSEY
What you need to know:
The professional golfers in Tuesday’s draw are from no less than six countries and will be the markers of their teams. The score of the professional player and the best two amateurs in the team will count for the final team scores.
The six-in-one Johnnie Walker Uganda Open Golf Championship is into its business bend this week starting the highly-anticipated Pro-Am event presented by Absa Bank Uganda.
Unlike other events that have individual winners, this one-day bonanza is a team event with every team having the luxury of one professional player and three amateur players of either sexes.
The professional golfers in Tuesday’s draw are from no less than six countries and will be the markers of their teams. The score of the professional player and the best two amateurs in the team will count for the final team scores.
Playing conditions
The silver categories of the other events are played under the strokeplay format (gross) whereas this glitz and glamour event will be played under the 18-holes stableford team competition format that has points at stake.
The rules of engagement state that in case of a tie, the winner will be determined by countback. The team score count back will be based on the professionals’ golfer’s return for the day.
Uganda Golf Union (UGU) vice president Jackson Were, who is also the Tournament Director, and Gad Musasizi, who is the Chief Rules Official will be keen to ensure no illegal golf balls are used and that all scorecards are completed and submitted within 10 minutes after their respective rounds.
The consequence of breaching any rule is disqualification and thus meaning being ineligible for the top three teams prizes.
Field of elites
The Pro-Am event is arguably the most adored competitions in the Open Championship month since it inauguration three years ago because it helps the professionals get a feel of the course ahead of engaging battle in the 72-hole event the next day, win over a couple of more individual sponsors going by the way they engage with the corporate amateurs in the fray who are mostly the who’s who of top corporate companies, businesses in Uganda and East Africa.
Absa Bank Uganda Managing Director Mumba Kalifungwa will tee off at midday alongside the hosting Uganda Golf Club (UGC) Kitante captain Emmanuel Wamala and Marsh CEO Alex Mukasa alongside Kenya’s favourite son – Mutahi Kibugu, who was born in Uganda to a former UGC captain Dan Kaggwe but is also the only East African that made the cut at this year’s European Tour sanctioned Magical Kenya Open at Muthaiga Golf Club.
Three-time Uganda Open champion as an amateur and one pro event while still an amateur, Ronald Otile has flown in from the USA and will rub shoulders with ), Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort & Spa’s Director Kartik Halai, Manoj Murali and MTN Uganda’s Andrew Bugembe.
The razzmatazz on the course will be pumped up three-fold with several hospitality tents and unique prize giving ceremony.
ABSA PRO-AM DRAW
Selected Tee Off Times
12pm: Mutahi Kibugu (pro), Mumba Kalifungwa, Alex Mukasa, Emmanuel Wamala.
12.10pm: Ronald Otile (pro), Kartik Halai, Manoj Murali, Andrew Bugembe
11.10pm: Ronald Rugumayo (pro), Paul Habyarimana, Daniel Kalimuzo, Sammy Migunda
8am: Aaron Simfukwe (pro), David Wandera, Emmanuel Mwaka, Gabriel Kuria
9.50am: Flavia Namakula (pro), Nelson Kasigaire, Evah Magala, Gloria Mbaguta
11am: Dismas Indiza (pro), John Baptist Tumusiime, Harry Hakiza, Manon Menoj
