Lady golfers head west for the Kilembe Mines Ladies Open in Kasese
Koowe, last year’s champion after a sudden-death playoff against Janet Kabayonga, is among 17 elite amateur golfers competing for a share of sh7 million over 54 holes.
Lillian Koowe will be eager to defend her Kilembe Ladies Open title in Kasese. Photo by Michael Nsubuga
Lillian Koowe will be eager to defend her title as the second Kilembe Mines Ladies Open begins today at Kilembe Mines Golf Course in Kasese on Thursday.
Koowe, last year’s champion after a sudden-death playoff against Janet Kabayonga, is among 17 elite amateur golfers competing for a share of sh7 million over 54 holes.
She faces strong competition from Uganda’s top players, including Peace Kabasweka, Martha Babirye, and Meron Kyomugisha, with the winner set to receive sh1.68 million.
Janet Kabayonga of Tooro Club returns, joined by Gloria Nanyoga, Joweria Namanda, Resty Nalutaaya, Rachael Natukunda, Nerimah Shaminah, Gloria Mbaguta, Robinah Angom, Frista Birabwa, and Joyce Kisembo. Babirye, Kabasweka, and Nalutaaya recently competed in the Pearl of Africa Golf Series, and with their earlier strong performances in the Entebbe Ladies Open, they should be able to put up a strong challenge for the top prize.
The top amateurs will be joined by another field of amateur golfers who will compete for prizes in the traditional men's and women's groups A-C as well as in the juniors' and seniors’ categories. Last year Koowe tied with Janet Kabayonga with a score of 272 over 54 holes before winning in a sudden-death playoff.
She won the playoff on the third hole after recording a par where Kabayonga recorded a bogey. Joseph Cwinyaai, who recently won the Pearl of Africa Golf Series’ first leg in Entebbe, is the men’s defending champion. The male amateurs, including Andrew Ssekibejja, who won the Kabalaza Golf Championship in Entebbe, are also working towards improving their World Amateur Golf Rankings.
Golf Ranking ranks male and female amateur golfers by assessing performance at thousands of amateur golf tournaments and championships around the world. It is based on the results of over 2,600 amateur tournaments per year (and amateurs participating in certain professional events) and is updated each Wednesday. Rankings are based on the players' average performances in counting events over a rolling period.