Kasango recovers from the Uganda Open struggles to win in Kilelesi Golf series

What started as a humble idea for revolving golf tournaments featuring amateurs and professionals around the major courses in the country, the Kilelesi Series is slowly gaining fame.

After debuting on several courses as a leisure event, it has revolved and saw its second competitive edition held at the Uganda Golf Club (UGC) where Grace Kasango held his nerve to win; beating amateur Ian Kalema in a tightly contested tournament.

Kasango, who had a Johnnie Walker Uganda Professionals Golf Open to forget after failing to make the cut, shot a superb three-under 69. That score was matched by Kalema, and the two returned to the course to face off in a three-hole playoff.

Kalema missed an uphill putter from a little over two feet to hand Kasango victory. The latter walked away with Shs1.4m while Kalema settled for Shs900,000.

Ronald Otile and Denis Lulangwa both finished tied in third and took home Shs580,000 each.

It has since spread like a bushfire and is highly among professional golfers whose calendar has routinely suffered from a scarcity of activities.

The chairman of Kilelesi Golf, Hassan Kiyemba, noted that next year’s activities will be bigger and better.

“We have only started,” Kiyemba told The New Vision. “Whatever you see is just the start; we are intent on changing the outlook of amateur and professional golf in the country.”  

Kilelesi Golf have held competitions at Mary Louise Simkins Golf Club in Namulonge, Entebbe, Uganda Golf Club and Lugazi Hills & Country Club.

The last Entebbe Kilelesi competition was won by Philip Kasozi.

Kiyemba intimated to The New Vision that sooner rather than later, Kilelesi Golf will bring on board partners who will help grow the cause of the leading amateur and professional golfers in the country.

“Those discussions have started and they are going smoothly,” he noted.

Some of the professional golfers who are ever present in Kilelesi golf tournaments include Deo Akope, Marvin Kibirige, Vincent ‘Araali’ Byamukama, Adolf Muhumuza, Otile and Richard Baguma.

National team golfers like Titus Okwong, Joseph Cwinya-ai, Joseph Reagan Akena and Joseph Kasozi are all regular competitors in Kilelesi events.

In December, Kilelesi Golf will hold a three-day end-of-year tournament for amateurs and professionals whose kitty will be the biggest thus far.

Not surprisingly, there will be a cut to ensure that golf excellence is rewarded.

Kilelesi Golf UGC Leg leaderboard

Grace Kasango 69

Ian Kalema       69 nett

Ronald Otile      70

Denis Lulangwa 70

Herman Mutawe 71

Deo Akope 71

Raymond Mwesigye 71

Jimmy Ategeka 71