Uganda looks to new breed at Pros Open
Hungry As A Rookie. Otile is fresh from the US with a burning desire to win, again. PHOTO/EDDIE CHICCO
What you need to know:
Burden Of Hope. Another name to watch will be David Kamulindwa who has recently quietly camped in Mombasa, Kenya for a handful of months.
The five-in-one Johnnie Walker Uganda Golf Open is wrapping up this weekend with the lucrative 18th Uganda Professionals Open whose 72-hole contest tees-off at the Uganda Golf Club (UGC) on Wednesday.
No Ugandan has tasted the Pro Open win in the last eight editions. Even if holder in two-time champion Zimbabwean Robson Chinhoi is absent, there’s work to do for the home-based players.
The Uganda Professional Golfers Association (UPGA) will feel its own element of sorrow after Deo Akope admitted he won’t take part in the Open this week due to a swollen hip.
Akope is the last Ugandan to win the Pros Open, back in 2014 when he added to the 2006 title, at the inaugural edition of this championship. “It’s really a shame that this has happened at a course that I know at the back of my mind,” a disappointed Akope told this paper. “I have tried everything to see I could be part of it but I think my health comes first. The doctors have advised to give it a rest instead of injuring it more by forcing it to play.”
Akope and Vincent Byamukama (2013) are the only Ugandans to ever win this Pros Open. It is on this grapevine that change is inviting new faces to take over Uganda’s quest here.
“I know we have a good local field representing and I hope one of our own wins it,” Akope, who will miss the Uganda Open for the first time since 1997 at either Amateur or Pro level, admitted.
The forecast presents newbie Ronald Otile and busy Ronald Rugumayo as the faces to lead the charge. US-based Otile won the Amateurs Open in 2015, 2016 and 2018 and has since turned to the paid ranks in the state of North Carolina. “It is possible,” Otile, who won the Pros Open as an amateur in 2016, said of his chances, “I am getting used to the greens,” he told this paper while on course yesterday afternoon.
Rugumayo was Uganda’s best player after he tied in second place with Kenyan Simon Ngige behind Chinhoi at the par-72 course in Serena - Kigo.
Decisive short-game
He has been on the road for months, making the cut twice on the prestigious Sunshine Tour, Blue Label Development Tour and the Altron Big Easy Tour.
“I am proud of myself with the achievements thus far,” said the 2017 Uganda Amateur Open champion. “Now I would like to continue working on my mental strength and short game. It’s gonna be a week of roars. I aim to take it hole by hole and day by day for the first two days.” Another name to watch will be David Kamulindwa who has recently quietly camped in Mombasa, Kenya for six months to sharpen his game.
Meanwhile, only 15 players with the Ugandan card including lady pro Irene Nakalembe and amateur Ibrahim Bagalana made the cut in Kigo last year. Besides Akope, the experienced old guard such as Phillip Kasozi, Denis Anguyo, Brian Toolit, US-based Willy Deus Kitata and Byamukama have their work cut out on a familiar course.
The younger generation; Herman Mutebi, Bulhan Matovu, Davis Kato, and Grace Kasango knows the heavy task at hand. The foreign legion will be led by record five-time winner Dismas Indiza, DP World Tour cut maker Mutahi Kibugu, lively Greg Snow, Rizwan Charania and Jastas ‘Pastor’ Madoya while Visitor Mapwanya and Aaron Simfukwe lead the cast of Zimbabweans in the field.
17TH UGANDA GOLF PROS OPEN
FINAL LEADERBOARD
1 Robson Chinhoi (ZIM) 69 70 66 72 277
T2 Simon Ngige (KEN) 75 74 67 71 287
T2 Ronald Rugumayo (UGA) 73 70 67 77 287
4 Greg Snow (KEN) 74 70 70 76 290
T5 Samuel Njoroge (KEN) 72 74 72 73 291
T5 Nyasha Muyambo (ZIM) 73 72 71 75 291
T7 Visitor Mapwanya (UGA) 73 77 71 72 293
T7 Celestine Nsanzuwera (RWA) 76 72 68 77 293
T9 David Wakhu (KEN) 76 76 69 73 294
T9 Phillip Kasozi (UGA) 75 76 71 72 294
T9 Willy Deus Kitata (UGA) 75 74 75 70 294
T9 Dismas Indiza (KEN) 72 70 76 76 294
T15 Joshua Seale (UGA) 79 70 72 76 297
T17 Abraham Ainamani (UGA) 77 75 73 73 298
T19 Brian Toolit (UGA) 78 74 77 71 300
T19 Silver Opio (UGA) 76 75 73 76 300
T24 Ibrahim Bagalana* (UGA) 81 70 76 76 303
26 Adolf Muhumuza (UGA) 77 71 74 82 304
T28 David Kamulindwa (UGA) 76 76 73 81 306
30 Rodell Gaita (UGA) 79 73 73 82 307
T31 Irene Nakalembe (UGA) 80 72 74 82 308
T31 Grace Kasango (UGA) 73 77 75 83 308
T34 Marvin Kibirige (UGA) 80 72 79 78 309
CAST OF UGANDA PRO OPEN WINNERS
2022: Robson Chinhoi (ZIM)
2021: Jastas Madoya (KEN)
2020: Robson Chinhoi (ZIM)
2019: Muthiya Madalisto (ZAM)
2018: Dismas Indiza (KEN)
2017: Stephen Ferreira (POR)
2016: Joshua Seale (RSA)
2015: Muthiya Madalitso (ZAM)
2014: Deo Akope (UGA)
2013: Vincent Byamukama (UGA)
2012: Dismas Indiza (KEN)
2011: Dismas Indiza (KEN)
2010: Jean Baptiste Hakizimana (RWA)
2009: Richard Ainley (KEN)
2008: Dismas Indiza (KEN)
2007: Dismas Indiza (KEN)
2006: Deo Akope (UGA)
