Cwinyaai the best Ugandan at Africa Amateur Golf Championship

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National team captain Joseph Cwinyaai finished as the best Ugandan in 36th position as the Africa Amateur Golf Championship ended at the Leopard Creek course in South Africa on Saturday.

Cwinyaai carded an overall 27-over 315 over 72 holes, 35 strokes away from the winning score of 280, by 17-year-old South African Bryan Newman.

Cwinyaai, 30, was one of three Ugandans, alongside Titus Okwong and Michael Alunga, who lasted the four days of competition, having cut 38 others.

The other Ugandans, Andrew Ssekibejja, Reagan Akena, Elthon Thembo, and Ibrahim Bagalana, did not 'make the cut' to play in the last two rounds. They failed to make the cut, which was set at 12-over 156.

Okwong finished with 317, while Alunga carded 319, finishing 38th and 39th overall. Cwinyaai, Okwong, and Alunga ranked 251st, 1447th, and 562nd in the world and will soon have their rankings revised after completing the four rounds. At 195, Akena remains the best-ranked Ugandan in the country’s contingent that competed in the championship.

Meanwhile, lady golfer Peace Kabasweka (ranked 209th), who returned 248 over 54 holes, finished 16th overall out of the 18 golfers that completed the ladies’ tournament, while Martha Babirye retired after the opening round. Gia Raad claimed the Africa Amateur Women’s Invitational title at Leopard Creek today with a two-shot victory over her fellow South African Bobbi Brown.

The winner of the Africa Amateur Championship earned exemptions into the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush, the Amateur Championship, the Alfred Dunhill Championship, the Investec South African Open, and the Waterfall City Tournament of Champions powered by Attacq.

The R&A sponsors the event to ensure there is investment in players’ pathways through the work of the Africa Golf Confederation and its affiliates across Africa. The introduction of the championship complements existing amateur championships jointly organised by the R&A in Asia-Pacific and Latin America. It will enable players from Africa to play at the highest level, as well as create a pathway for African golfers to develop and become an inspiration for others to follow. 

The championship also builds on an Africa High-Performance Program established in 2023 by the R&A and delivered to players and coaches in African countries as part of a wider effort to develop golf and provide support to players aspiring to reach elite levels of the sport.