Peace Hellen aims to maintain Order of Merit leadership

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Entebbe Club lady golfer Peace Hellen has vowed to maintain her lead at the MTN Monthly Tee Order of Merit after she topped the season opener with a score of 64 nett.

Playing off handicap 29, Hellen, who has just made one year in the sport, beat over 100 players to the overall trophy, including Dejan Stepanovic, who topped the men’s competition with 68 nett.

“I feel very happy for being the overall winner, but it is not surprising because I practice almost every day, at least three times a week. So, today’s round was easy for me, and it is good exercise,” Hellen said.

Group B winner Daniel Opwoya (left) receives his trophy from Morgan Otile after the January competition at Entebbe Club, January 18, 2025. (Photo by Michael Nsubuga)

“I enjoyed a mixed round with pars and bogeys as well as a birdie on hole 18, so the game was good. I’m going to keep working hard because I want to top the order of merit by the end of the year,” she added.

Hellen finished ahead of Maxi Byenkya and Susan Knight, who carded 69 nett each, with Charity Tushabomwe and Edith Wamalwa following closely with 73 nett each.

The men’s competition was tightly contested, with Stepanovic edging Daniel Opwonya by a stroke as seven golfers, including Andrew Baguma, Stephen Ojambo, Mathias Zungu, Albert Gitta, John Ssebuliba, and Herbert Olowo, all returned 70 nett.

Robbins Mwehaire, Drake Tukamuhabwa, and Herbert Mwetemba were also part of another nine golfers who carded 71 nett on the day.

The day’s action also had the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, playing the first event of the year as he tried to shake off the rust from his game.

Tayebwa said he also enjoyed a mixed game but was grateful that the season had finally started, offering golfers networking and exercising opportunities.

“We have to invest more in this game and the top players because the game can boost our tourism. But also, on a personal note, it is good for my health because when I play, I burn some calories, which is good for my health,” Tayebwa stated.

Meanwhile, team Timecop Security-2 returned 108 points to win the Masaka Sports Club Golf Fundraiser tournament played on the same day at Kitante.

Group A runners up Robbins Mwehaire (left) receives his trophy from MTN's Andrew Bugembe after the January competition at Entebbe Club, January 18, 2025. (Photo by Michael Nsubuga)

The team was composed of Charity Atuhaire, Fred Kasumba, Faith Namara, and Rosette Tugume, who returned 43, 33, 31, and 32 points each to win the fundraiser.

Isaiah Tugume (41 points) and Bridget Asiimwe (50 points) took the individual honours ahead of Ronald Kwikiriza (40 points) and Charity Atuhaire (43 points).

In November 2022, the Masaka City Council administration entered a partnership with the Uganda Golf Union aimed at revamping the course, which had for a long time been neglected and under threat from land grabbers. It is now on course to be playable.