Kenya displace Uganda at the top as Regional IV Championship rages on in Addis

Uganda golfers could not replicate their first-round performance in the Africa Region IV Golf Championship, surrendering their day-one lead to Kenya as the second round ended at the Addis Ababa Golf Course in Ethiopia on Thursday.

Apart from Godfrey Nsubuga who returned a similar one-under 70 as he produced in the first round, the rest of the Ugandans whose scores counted on the day; Juma Abiti and Ibrahim Bagalana’s 77 and 78 were not enough to help them maintain the top spot.

It is instead Kenya that was trailing Uganda by 7 strokes after the first round that improved by 15 strokes in the second round, to take a four-stroke lead ahead of the overnight leaders Uganda.

John Lejirma led Kenya’s onslaught with a four-under 67 as Michael Karanga’s 71 and Elvis Muigua’s 75 ensured the defending champions take the top spot.

“I had a fine round though as a team we didn’t play to the expectations but hope to play better tomorrow,” Nsubuga said.

“It was a tough round today but we are still positive and hoping for the best tomorrow,” team coach Flavia Namakula.

Rwanda who were last on the five-team log after the first round improved by 24 strokes to jump to the third place displacing hosts Ethiopia who moved to fourth despite a four-stroke improvement in the second round. Tanzania remains rooted to the bottom with two rounds to go.

Standings after the second round

Kenya 229 214 443

Uganda 222 225 447

Ethiopia 239 235 474

Rwanda 246 222 468

Tanzania 241 239 480