Kenya complete hat-trick of Region IV Golf Championship wins in Kigali

Kenya secured their third consecutive Region IV Golf Championship with a total score of 851 gross at the fifth edition held at the Kigali Golf Resort and Villas from October 4-6.

Kenya’s top amateur player and captain, Michael Karanga, led the team with a total score of 276 over four rounds. John Lejirma and Adel Balala contributed scores of 283 and 292, respectively, ensuring Kenya’s hat-trick of wins in this annual championship.

Having won at the Lake Victoria Serena course in 2022 and defended their title in Addis Ababa last year, Kenya once again triumphed with a 28-stroke margin on Sunday.

Karanga’s impressive rounds of 8-under 64 and 6-under 66 in the third and fourth rounds at the par-72 course not only secured victory for Kenya but also earned him individual honors with a 12-under 276 over the four rounds.

Uganda’s captain, Joseph Cwinyaai, was the best performer for his team, scoring a four-under 67 in the last round and finishing with an overall five-under 283, placing him second overall. Uganda finished second as a team with a total score of 879 gross.

Joseph Reagan Akena was Uganda’s second-best scorer with 287, finishing fifth overall in the individual standings, just behind Lejirma and Seychelles’ Andrian Andrade (286), who finished third and fourth, respectively. Kenyan Elvis Muigua (292) and Uganda’s Joseph Kasozi (309) also contributed to their teams’ overall scores in this event, which featured six countries.

Each country was represented by four golfers, with the best three scores counting per round.

“The competition was tough. Our Kenyan brothers put up a good show. They really played well. We didn’t start well, but our boys kept improving. It’s been great exposure for them. Trust me, it will be different at the All Africa Challenge Trophy in Zimbabwe at the end of October,” said Uganda team coach Flavia Namakula.

“I want to applaud captain Cwinyaai for his excellent performance, along with Uganda Open Champion Akena. It could have been better, but it was a tough field against our Kenyan brothers,” she added.

Uganda was also represented by Joseph Kasozi, who scored 309, while Ibrahim Ssemakula returned a non-scoring 318 over the four rounds.

Uganda and Kenya have now won the event two and three times, respectively.

Final results

Kenya 851

Uganda 879

Seychelles 909

Rwanda 913

Mauritius 931

Ethiopia 1105