Kabasweka grabs her second Entebbe Ladies Open

Toro Club’s Peace Kabasweka carded 17-over 230 gross over 54 holes to win the 14th edition of the Entebbe Ladies Open at Entebbe Club on Saturday.

This was her second Entebbe Ladies Open win for the national ladies' team scratch player following the one she won in 2022 on the same course. She edged another national team player Melon Kyomugisha by two strokes to bag her fifth ladies' open major in two years on local soil.

Uganda Airlines Ground Operations Supervisor Boniface Toku hands over prizes to Peace Kabasweka after he won the Entebbe Ladies Open at Entebbe Club. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

The Uganda Ladies Open defending champion has previously also won the UGC Ladies Open twice, the Namulonge Ladies Open, and now the Entebbe Ladies crown twice.

She opened her campaign in the World Amateur Golf Ranking tournament with an opening round three-over 73 before she messed in the second round with a 12-over 83, but remained with a two-stroke lead as her nearest opponent Kyomugisha also bundled up her second round with an 82.

Kabasweka then steadied the ship in the last round where she only picked one bogey on the first nine where Kyomugisha picked five. But the latter notched three consecutive birdies on holes 10, 11, and 12 to remain within chasing distance but the champion could not be denied despite picking more bogeys on holes 10 and 18 in between a birdie on the par-3 16, in what turned out to be a two-horse race.

Kabasweka said her previous win in 2022 was sweeter than this one although it wasn’t easy too.

Peace Kabasweka (center) poses with the different sponsors representatives after she won the Entebbe Ladies Open, March 2, 2024. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

“In 2022 the field included foreign players so it was tougher but I hacked in this one on day two so going into the last round I just told myself not to lose it all, so I thank God that I came out as a champion,” Kabasweka said.

“I was comfortable at the front but it became tough by hole 12 because she had regained three strokes by then but it became comfortable when I birdied hole 16 and got a par on the 17th, so by the time we teed-off the 18th, I was very comfortable,” Kabasweka stated.

She said her focus this year is to play in more ranking tournaments, especially in Kenya so that her ranking can improve.

“This year I missed playing in the African championship because I was not ranked, so this year I’m going to put in more effort to make it in the world rankings,”

The different winners from the Entebbe Ladies Open pose with the sponsors after the tournament at Entebbe Club, March 2, 2024. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

She dedicated her win to all her fans, well-wishers, and sponsors before she was rewarded with an air ticket courtesy of Uganda Airlines at the 19th hole.

Kyomugisha and second runners-up Harriet Kitaka also received air tickets on top of other goodies from the co-sponsors that included KCB Bank, MTN, Britam Insurance, Johnnie Walker, Crown Beverages (7UP), and UBL.

The battle for better ranking points in the men’s event was won by Entebbe Club youngster Cosmas Ociti’s 213 which edged Elton Thembo and Emmanuel Moko’s 214 and 215 scores over the three rounds.

Top ten

Peace Kabasweka 74 83 73 230

Melon Kyomugisha 77 82 73 232

Harriet Kitaka 82 81 81 244

Judith Komugisha 81 80 87 248

Resty Nalutaaya 85 84 81 250

Gloria Mbaguta 85 82 83 250

Cathy Kwagala 84 81 91 256

Janet Kabayonga 87 88 83 258

Bernadette Musanabera 84 90 85 259

Lillian Koowe 90 87 84 261

Bronze Ladies

Rukia Bako 89 88 177

Day 1 winner

Lynda Mugeni 89c/b

Day 2 winner

Florence Namara 90

Seniors winner

Rosemary Kioni 69nett

Longest drive

Berna Musanabera

Nett winner

Fridah Buteme 73 63 136c/b

Nancy Mugo 70 66 136

Top three men

Cosmas Ociti 71 69 73 213

Elton Thembo 70 73 71 214

Emmanuel Moko 74 68 73 215

Subsidiary

Group A

Andrew Kibaya 68nett

Group B

John Paul Namoma 62nett

Group C

John Ssebuliba 68nett

Nearest to the pin

Jamil Maningi

Longest drive

Victor Kalenzi