About 100 golfers expected for Professionals Open

Uganda Professional Golfers Association's Deo Akope believes the Ugandan professional golfers are this time in better shape to claim the biggest share of sh110m prize money in the Tusker Malt Lager Uganda Open-professionals event due, August 31-September 3^rd at Kitante.

Addressing a pre-tournament press conference at the club yesterday, Akope said home advantage will be key in ensuring that the biggest chunk of the money stays in Uganda, despite the strong field of 53 foreign professionals that have registered to compete in the four-day event.

This year's event will attract a sizeable number of professionals from the MENA and Sunshine Tours including other golfers from Kenya, Rwanda, and Burundi.

Notable among them is defending champion Zambia's Madalisto Muthiya, Kenya's Jacob Okello winner of the 2016 Tanzania Golf Open, Nigeria's number two golfer Sunday Olapade, Rwanda's Jules Dusabe, and South Africa's Joshua Seale among others.

"We have been working hard to ensure all this money stays here; our numbers have grown, we're now 30 and the cut is for 30 people so there is no excuse for not winning or making the cut at home," Akope remarked.

"It's an honour to have Tusker once again. It is my dream to see this event grow into a European or Challenge Tour. We thank the UGC for accommodating us alongside their tournaments and I personally promise to give it my best," Akope said

Kenya with 35, has the biggest number of entries; Uganda have 30; Zambia led by defending champion Madalisto Muthiya has 2, Nigeria and Burundi; 2 each, Ghana and Tanzania; 4 each, Rwanda and Tanzania; 3 each while Burundi will have two.

 "This is a growth from the numbers that we had last year, we are still receiving post entries up to Saturday and we expect close to 100 golfers. There will be a cut after two rounds with the top 30 and ties playing the final two rounds; where they will be joined by a subsidiary field of 140 golfers," Omolo said.

Zambia's Madalisto Muthiya is back to defend his title. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

Kenya's Jacob Okello is off winning the Tanzania Open. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

"We expect the best golf in Africa to be played in Uganda during that period; it will be a taste of skill, stamina and endurance over the four days," Omolo stated.

Before, a curtain raiser pro-am event sponsored by Sheraton Hotel and UG BOSS, on August 30, will set the event in motion and is open to the first 120 amateurs to register.

"The Uganda Open has grown in stature and it has become more popular across Africa and globally, and we are determined to make it the most coveted tournament in the golf fraternity," UBL Marketing Director Juliana Kaggwa said.

"We as UBL are committed to improving golf because the sport resonates well with our brand Tusker and the target consumer; the game is about prestige, quality, precision which relates to the brand,"

UGC vice-captain Faiz Alam promised an even better organized professionals' event and was praying for a Ugandan to win.

The event is sponsored by Tusker, Etihad Airways, NTV, Mac East Africa, Kampala Cement, HTC hub, Stanbic and Case Medical Center.