Kitamirike/Kabunga dominate rain-hit Entebbe Match Play

The Entebbe Club Stanbic Match Play Golf Championship entered its third round on Saturday, with 64 partners battling through the second round in damp circumstances at Entebbe Club.

Following the heavy downpour, golfers struggled to make it through, with some matches unable to end as scheduled.

The biggest win of the day was registered by Steven Kitamirike/Charles Kabunga, who easily defeated Andrew Baguma/Peter Apell with an 8&6 score (by eight holes, with six left to play).

The hotly contested match of the day had Tony Ojok/Thomas Niwamara taking on Peter Atwiine/Bob Matsiko, which the former won after the first hole of a sudden death play-off.

Joseph Adrapi (left) receives his prizes from Stanbic Chief information officer Rita Akot Apell after the Entebbe Match Play Round of 64 at Entebbe Club. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

Milton Edimu/Lloyd Busuulwa defeated Dennis Ankunda/Brian Omeda 5&4, as did Richard Mugisha/Louis Tumukunde against Alvin Muhimbura/Isaiah Tugumenawe, while David Mpanga/Phillip Walera and Andrew Kibaya/Edward Kabuchu eliminated Daniel Muwooya/James Joash Okema and Collins Aritua/George Afimagi with scores of 4&3 each.

There were also wins for Yunus Bbaale/Anthony Agaba, Evelyne Atukunda/Ellis Katwebaze, Kiryowa Kiwanuka/Elly Mukasa and James O’Sullivan/Greg Patterson against Collins Nuwagira/Dan Kajungu, Mark Namanya/Michael Tumusiime, Shaban Ram/Charles Mubiru, and Serwano Walusimbi/Paul Katuramu, respectively.

The clashes between Casper Okiru/Ronald Osekeny against Jackie Kamunyu/Berna Musanabera ended in a stalemate, and the two teams will face off in a sudden death playoff later. The winners will take on Tony Ojok/Thomas Niwamara in the round of 32 next month.

Meanwhile, Joseph Adrapi won the men's subsidiary event with 33 stableford points, defeating Anslem Olweny on count-back. Adrapi stated that he was pleased with the result, though he believes it should have been better with better weather.

“My round wasn’t that good because there was so much rain because when there is rain you don’t hit the ball like you normally do and the ball doesn’t roll like it does during dry conditions,” Adrapi, who plays off handicap 7, said.

“So, I had to fully hit my clubs, and there was a lot of planning and tactics at play. The rain falling on you is also another inconvenience that I had to overcome. And when there is water on the greens, the ball doesn’t roll as you would wish, so it is not easy judging how far the ball will roll, so putting is also tricky.”

He said he got the 33 points from 15 holes because he ‘scratched’ three holes but managed two birdies on holes 2 and 10, with the first one almost resulting in a hole-in-one.

“It is a nice thing to be the overall winner, but I would always want to win such an accolade when I have played the way I want to play, but today there was a lot of interference, and the weather was not conducive because of the rain that affected me as a player and the course, so for me to have achieved this means investing in a lot of hard work,” Adrapi stated.

The event is sponsored by Stanbic, Uganda Airlines, DStv for Business, CFAO Motors, and Johnnie Walker.

Subsidiary Results

Group A

Joseph Adrapi 33c/b

Anslem Olweny 33pts

Group B

Jacob Byamukama 38

Michael Monne 36

Group C

Absorom Nabisiima 41

Abbas Luyombo 38

Ladies Group A

Peace Kabasweka 35pts

Martha Babirye 33

Group B

Charity Atuhaire 42c/b

Ruth Mugisha 42

Longest drive

Issa Tugumanawe

Martha Babirye

Nearest to the pin

Brian Manyindo