Uganda bags 5th East African Challenge trophy

By Michael Nsubuga

Final standings

Uganda 18.5pts

Kenya 17.5

Rwanda 14.5

Tanzania 7

Ethiopia 2.5

The Uganda national amateur golf team collected 18.5 points to win the East African Golf Challenge title for the second year running.

Just like last year, the Ugandans edged Kenya (17.5pts) by a point despite winning only five of their eight matches in the final singles round.

Andrew Byaruhanga making his debut on the Uganda team, set the pace for the Ugandans when he beat Ethiopia’s Tesfaye Gabru 4&3 before Ronald Bukenya saw off Tanzania’s Francis Julius 6&5.

Other Ugandan wins were registered by Daniel Baguma who beat Tanzania’s Saidy Amani, with another debutant on the senior Ugandan team, Herman Mutebi eliminating Ethiopia’s, Gebreselasie Binyam, 5&4.

Robert Oluba and Ronald Rugumayo were good for a half point each against Rwanda’s Jules Mutesa and Kenya’s Agil Is Hag respectively while Happy Robert and Ronald Otile lost their matches against Rwanda’s Emmanuel Rutayisire and Kenya’s Kenneth Bollo, 2UP and 3up respectively.

But champions Ugandan, just like last year had to depend on other games as well despite going into the final day’s round with a two-point lead.

Rwanda’s Afrodis Nyirinkwaya (3&2) win against Kenya's Justus Madoya and Tanzania’s Victor Joseph’s half point against Bhavnish Chandari ensured coach Kamya won his 5th title with the national team. It was Kamya’s fourth challenge trophy, having led the Ugandan team to the Africa Zone V1 Championships early thisa year.

“I’m happy our hard work has paid off, we planned for this and worked for it especially the foursomes and fourballs where we got 7.5pts; I’m proud of what we have achieved,” Kamya said.

“We have now proved that we are very good in match play and now have to improve our stroke play going forward,” Kamya stated.

Uganda were also helped by their early arrival in Kigali that saw their players compete in the Rwanda Open, thereby getting familiar with the course.

“We knew we were capable of winning this trophy and prepared well for the tournament. We now must improve in stroke play though me this is my last tournament with the team as I want to give opportunity to others,” team Captain Ronnie Bukenya stated.

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