Uganda start with stroke play games as Zone V tees off

Apr 11, 2017

Last year Uganda finished third overall in Swaziland

Uganda takes on Zambia and Angola in a stroke play round as they pursue glory in the Zone V Africa Golf Championships starting Wednesday, at the Nkana Golf Club in Zambia.

After the official practice round and the flag raising ceremony on Tuesday, Uganda's team of Becca Mwanja, Ronald Otile, Daniel Baguma and Dennis Asaba must come to terms with the tough playing conditions as the first round starts.

"Started the morning with the practice round. Very tight course with plenty of ‘Karanja'," team manager John Katto wrote on social media as the team went about their acclimatization round.

The term ‘Karanja' was coined at the Uganda Golf Club following the redesign of the course for the 2015 Uganda Open. Karanja Karubiu who was charged with the redesign overgrew the fairways to the chagrin of most golfers, thus the nammeee.

Last year Uganda finished third overall in Swaziland behind eventual winners and defending champions South Africa and runners up Zambia who they must beat to stand a chance of winning a second title.

They will be banking on the experience of South African based Baguma and Otile who were part of the team that finished third last year. Others were Ronald Rugumayo and Adolf Muhumuza who didn't make the team this year.

Unlike in 2015 when Uganda fielded 8 players and won the championship, they have since been fielding four following changes in the region (former Zone V1). Uganda and Kenya participate as guests.

This year's championship has attracted 13 countries that will be grouped in two groups A and B. The absence of Lesotho, Mozambique, and Mauritius has messed up the draw which will now have 8 teams placed in Group A with 5 in Group B.

Teams in Group A will play both match-play and stroke play rounds while those in Group B will play only two rounds of stroke play according to information from Zambia.
 

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