Gaita’s hot streak in Entebbe continues with Akope Golf Challenge win

Rodell Gaita carded an overall 8-under 205 over 54 holes to win the second edition of the Akope Challenge at Entebbe Club.

The Kampala-based golfer on Saturday recorded a total of 16 birdies and one eagle over three rounds, all played under par. He won the tournament by finishing two strokes ahead of Grace Kasango, who placed second with a score of 207.

 As a result, he claimed the largest portion of the prize pool, receiving sh3.4 million out of a total of sh15 million. Kasango earned sh2.2 million, while Marvin Kibirige, defending champion David Kamulindwa, and Davis Kato, who tied in third place, took home sh1.5 million each. Gaita had finished fifth in the same competition last year.

The Entebbe course is proving to be a good hunting ground for Gaita, who seven months ago successfully defended his Stanbic Entebbe Open title on the same course. Early last month, he finished second to Herman Mutebi when the Pearl of Africa Golf Series made a stop in Entebbe.

This time, there was no denying him as he produced his best scores yet in Entebbe. He carded a five-under 66 in the second round, punctuated by six birdies and an eagle on the par-5 hole 18, setting himself apart from a competitive field that included runner-up Kasango, who fired consistent four-under 68s in both the first and final rounds.

Earlier on Friday, Lawrence Walakira secured victory in the same event in the amateur category, finishing with a score of 2-over 215 over 54 holes.

This marked Lance Corporal Walakira’s first career win, having started out as a caddie at Entebbe Club before joining the UPDF golf team in 2019.

The tournament also celebrated a significant milestone for lady golfer Gloria Mbaguta, who claimed her first overall victory in a ladies’ tournament after several top-five finishes over the past seven years.

Calvin Nasaaba (66 nett) and Frista Birabwa (72) emerged as the best juniors in the annual event organised by Uganda Professional Golfers’ Association chairman and legendary golfer Deo Akope under the Akope Foundation, which aims to nurture and develop young talent.

Akope hopes to channel the burning curiosity that fuelled his love for the game in the early 1990s, when he played with a cassava stick and improvised balls made from rubber bands. His aim is to inspire the upcoming generation, who are more privileged than he was but still need guidance to succeed.

Rodell Gaita in action at the Entebbe course. (Credit: Michael Nsubuga)