Akena takes lead of Uganda Golf Open in penultimate round

He came to this year’s championship with a target of finishing among the top three but Lugazi Hills Golf Club’s Joseph Reagan Akena could be the man to beat after all, after he took a one-stroke lead in the penultimate round of the Johnnie Walker Championship in Entebbe on Friday.

But it is too close to call as Titus Okwong who was fifth after the second round is also now just one stroke away from the leader after he enjoyed a bogey-free round that produced a three-under 68.

Akena, 19, shot a third-round level-par 71, the second-best score in the round to overtake overnight leader Joseph Cwinyaai by a stroke going into the last 18 holes.

Joseph Cwinyaai chips from a bunker on hole 14 during the third round. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

Akena and Cwinyaai have up to this point been the most consistent in the championship but it is the former that has performed almost unnoticed until Friday’s round when he displaced Cwinyaai to the excitement of the gallery.

Whether he can hold on to the top remains to be seen but he looks determined to defy the odds just like he stated after his first round.

“I had a fairly good round because the course conditions are not that good and the pin placements are difficult but I’m hopeful of finishing strong. I will just stay focused and have fun, the rest will fall in. My target coming into the competition was top three but I think I can achieve more than that,” Akena said after he carded two-over 73 on Wednesday.

He returned the same score in the second round but his bogey-free back nine display in which he birdied the par-5 hole-15 could have swayed the championship in his favour. On the front he had birdied the par-4 hole-3 and the par-3 six, to set himself on course despite bogeys on holes 1, 7, and 8.

Titus Okwong crawled in the top three after his three-under 68. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

One-time winner Cwinyaai started fairly well and took a one-stroke lead on Thursday which he had stretched to three strokes up to hole-14  and after he scored 11 consecutive pars from holes 4 to 14. But a bogey on hole-15 marked the start of his troubles which he followed with another one on hole-17. His second birdie of the day came a little late on the 18th hole after his earlier one on the par-5 hole-1 but in between he had also bogeyed the par-4 hole-3 which left him frustrated, having missed several birdie opportunities along the way, in addition to the slow play from the group which left him fuming. The round was played for six hours!

You rule out fourth-placed Abdu Kakeeto and fifth-placed Michael Tumusiime at your peril as they also put up a great show despite registering five and four bogeys respectively. It could have been better for Tumusiime who also enjoyed a bogey-free back-nine but was left to rue his poor start.

Defending champion Godfrey Nsubuga will play in the second ‘pressure group’ nine strokes away from the leader after he returned one over 72 just like in the second round.

Round 3: Top ten

Joseph R. Akena (UG) 73 73 71 217

Joseph Cwinyaai (UG) 72 73 73 218

Titus Okwong (UG) 73 77 68 218

Abdu Kakeeto (UG) 70 78 74 222

Michael Tumusiime (UG) 74 74 75 223

Samuel Bazaale (UG) 73 76 74 223

Ibrahim Ssemakula (UG) 78 71 75 224

Godfrey Nsubuga (UG) 82 72 72 226

Abdallah Kakooza (UG) 74 77 76 227

Joseph Kasozi (UG) 77 76 76 229