Kenyan Nyachama wins her first Entebbe Ladies Open Golf title
Despite a bogey on the par-3 10, Nyachama steadied the ship with more birdies on holes 11, 13, and 15, with her double bogey on the par-4 17 of no consequence to her lead.
Mercy Nyachama (2nd left) is presented her overall winners trophy by Entebbe Club captain Serwano Walusimbi (left), chairman Jacob Byamukama and MTN's Andrew Gitta (right) after she won the Entebbe Ladies Open at Entebbe Club. Photo by Michael Nsubuga
Kenyan Mercy Nyachama shot an overall 7-over 220 to win her first MTN Entebbe Ladies Open title at Entebbe Club on Saturday.
Playing off handicap -1.4, the Njoro Country Club member notched six birdies over the three rounds, with three of these in the last round, to beat defending champion Peace Kabasweka to the title by five strokes to bag the biggest share of the sh10m prize money (sh2.4m).
The Kenyan built on her overnight two-stroke lead to claim her second title this year, following her earlier victory, the Sigona Ladies Open (GOTY) 2026, back home early this month.
Not even the news of the death of her mom back in Kenya moments before play started in Entebbe could deter Nyanchama from competing favourably.
She opened her Entebbe title chase with a 4-over 75 and tied with Kabasweka in the opening round before she improved by a stroke in the second, where the latter scored 76, to open up a two-stroke lead, which became four when her nearest challenger bogeyed holes 7 and 8, whereas Nyachama had enjoyed a bogey-free front nine.
Despite a bogey on the par-3 10, Nyachama steadied the ship with more birdies on holes 11, 13, and 15, with her double bogey on the par-4 17 of no consequence to her lead.
“I’m so excited to win this competition, and I dedicate it to my late mum. When I arrived, that's when she died, but I decided to continue with the event, and I thank God that I managed to play the 54 holes and emerged as the winner,” Nyachama, who also won the Uganda Ladies Open last August, said.
“During the first round, I was crying the whole first nine, but I decided to focus because I needed to get good world ranking points, and thank God I did it. I know wherever my mom is, she is happy. I had to play well for her, and only God knows why she took her.
“My game is on point, and I hope I can continue winning in the other international events,” Nyachama, who is currently ranked 1338th in the world, stated. Despite not winning, Kabasweka remains the best-ranked female player in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, 341st among the field that competed in Entebbe, having won 7 events last year. Tanzanian Neema Olomi finished joint second with Kabasweka, ten strokes better than Judith Komugisha, who carded an overall 235. Kabasweka and Olomi took home sh1.4m each while Komugisha pocketed sh1m.
“It was an up and down tournament for me, but I thank God that at least I have finished in the second position and stronger. I’m going to continue working hard, especially for the Kenya Ladies Open coming up in a month,” Kabasweka stated.
Final leaderboard: Top ten
Mercy Nyachama 75 74 71 220
Peace Kabasweka 75 76 74 225
Neema Olomi 76 75 74 225
Judith Komugisha 81 79 75 235
Martha Babirye 76 79 81 236
Resty Nalutaaya 85 81 77 243
Joyce Kisembo 82 79 83 244
Meron Kyomugisha 85 78 82 245
Vicky Erias 84 83 79 246
Lillian Koowe 76 86 85 247
Harsshitha Loganathan 86 79 82 247