Kitamirike/Kabunga grab maiden Entebbe Match Play Challenge final slot

Next month's second edition of the Stanbic Entebbe Match-Play Challenge final will feature two first-time pairs: Steven Kitamirike/Charles Kabunga and Picole Lukyamuzi/Henry Nsubuga.

The two pairs made the final after grueling semi-final matches that saw them beat Ellis Katwebaze/Evelyne Atukunda 3&1 and 5&4 (won by five holes with four left to play) at the par-71 Entebbe course.

The finalists will now fight it out on August 2 for top prizes like air tickets from co-sponsors Uganda Airlines and other goodies from DStv for Business, CFAO Mobility, and Johnnie Walker.

Katwebaze, who played without his partner Evelyne Atukunda, who had traveled outside the country, put up a strong solo effort against the pair but could not go beyond hole 17.

Steven Kitamirike (left) and Charles Kabunga savour their win at the 19th hole after the Stanbic Match-Play Challenge at Entebbe Club. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

“It was tough, but I gave it a push and the best I could do. I just stuck to my strategy and played my game, but they also had some lucky breaks along the way that helped them on a couple of holes,” Katwebaze said.

Katwebaze trailed by three holes after the first four holes, which remained like that at the halfway mark, but fought on and reduced the deficit by one by the 16th hole. “The last holes they had strokes, and somehow they capitalized with some lucky breaks,” he noted.

Kitamirike was the shining star, always bailing out his opponent whenever he fumbled. The win came as Kabunga celebrated his 63rd birthday, and he was glad to make his first final, having been stopped at the same stage in previous championships.

“The game was very challenging. We played one man, but he is a solid golfer, and he almost turned the tables after hole 12,” Kitamirike noted.

“We call ourselves Team No Stress. We shall come to enjoy the final, God willing; we shall make it. But we respect Katwebaze; he has played good golf,” Kabunga chipped in.

“The course has been excellent; we enjoyed it. It was a challenging game worthy of the semis. We thank Stanbic for the sponsorship, and I thank my partner Kitamirike for always bailing me out whenever I fumbled,” Kabunga stated.

Picole Lukyamuzi and Henry Nsubuga, who were sponsored by their Namilyango OBs, will also be playing in their first final.

“It was a difficult match because we were competing against seasoned golfers like Basabose, who is a former national team player, and Kariisa, who is also very confident, so they were really good,” Nsubuga said.

“We had a bit of nerves in the beginning until hole No. 4, where we picked up and then got into the game, and everything started working the way we expected it. We finished it on hole 14 with a birdie. We played very well and complemented each other very well,” Lukyamuzi added.

“There were holes where I was slacking, but then we could just pick it up that kind of synergy made us win,” Lukyamuzi said.

“In the final we will just stick to our game. I have played Kitamirike before, so I know what to expect, and against Kabunga I will be playing against my uncle, at whose wedding in 1990 I was a pageboy,” Lukyamuzi revealed.

“It will be a good final because they play a safe game, unlike us, who are a bit aggressive. Personally, I’m aggressive, while Lukyamuzi is calm, but we shall try to adjust ourselves as well and fit in sync with their game,” Nsubuga vowed.

Collins Asiimwe, the DStv Marketing Manager, told the golfers that the DStv for Business proposition is for businesses like apartments, hotels, and golf clubs, among other entities, which get customized channels for their businesses. 

Subsidiary results

Group A

Robbins Mwehaire 42pts

Shaka Kariisa 39

Group B

Edwin Tabaro 37c/b

Collins Aritua 37

Group C

Henry Baguma 39

Charles Kizito 38

Ladies Group A

Bridget Basiima 42

Rita Apell 34

Group B

Edith Wamalwa 45

Maureen Okura 32

Longest drive

Ben John

Nearest to the pin

Carol Nteeba

Twinemanzi Tumubweinee