Otukei and Okoth joint top as the Uganda Juniors Golf Open starts

Anthony Otukei and Joel Okoth shot opening rounds of 1-over-par 73 each to take a one-stroke lead as the Uganda Juniors Golf Open started at Kitante on Monday.

Lugazi Hills Golf and Country Club’s Otukei notched five birdies, four bogeys and one double bogey to finish the first of three rounds tied with Joel Okoth.

On his part, Okoth scored three birdies and four bogeys to ensure he remains one of the top contenders of the event coming after the main events of the Uganda Open.

National team player Otukei was level on the turn, having registered two birdies on holes 6 and 8, with his only blemish then a double bogey on the par-5 hole 3. But he bogeyed the par-4s 10, 12, 15, and 16 to miss out on the perfect start he wished for. Okoth, who produced the second-best net score during the main amateurs’ event (286), had a relatively good first nine with just a single bogey on the second hole, but he also bogeyed the par-4s 12 and 18 as well as the par-3 17, but the leaders are the golfers to beat, having tested the course during the Amateurs Open earlier on.

In the girls’ division, it was Esther Kemigisa who took a two-stroke lead ahead of Laura Natukunda. Kemigisa opened with a 7-over 79 in the opening round, in which she only managed two birdies. Natukunda managed 8 pars and one birdie, one stroke ahead of Harsshitha Loganathan, who shot 82. The championship will be contested over 54 holes in both the boys’ and girls’ divisions.

Round 1: Top ten boys

Anthony Otukei 73

Joel Okoth 73

Raymond Rwothimio 74

Justine Ngeera 75

Peter Mayende 75

Shaka Kariisa 75

Charles Jjunju 76

Nabir Fakil 77

David Kamoga 77

Gavin Bwambale 77

Round 1: Top ten girls

Esther Kemigisa 79

Laura Natukunda 81

Harsshitha Loganathan 82

Enhui Zhang 85

Isabelle Mbaho 92

Patience Nafuna 96

Harriet Musoki 98

Joanita Nanyombi 98

Rachael Kabugho 100

Shanitah Chebet 102