Rugumayo sets new course record with 8-under 63 in Entebbe

Uganda Open champion Ronald Rugumayo shot an 8-under 63 in the third round, setting a new course record and taking a one-stroke lead at the second MTN Pro Tees tournament at Entebbe Club on Thursday.

Rugumayo recorded 8 birdies in a bogey-free round on the challenging lakeside course. He made five birdies on the front nine at holes 2, 5, 6, 7, and 9, reaching 6-under at the turn. He added three more on the par-5s at holes 11, 15, and 18, taking the lead for the first time in three rounds.

After finishing fourth in the first round and tied for fourth with Irene Nakalembe after the second, Rugumayo has now carded 204 over three rounds. He is well positioned to achieve a double victory in this closely contested championship.

While competitors like Rodell Gaita, currently two strokes behind in third, have won events such as the Akope Challenge with an 8-under over 54 holes, no one had previously achieved such a low score in a single round.

Abraham Ainamani chips from a bunker on hole 17 on the Entebbe course. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

“Honestly, I had a really tough time in my first two rounds. Mentally, I was struggling to put aside what happened in Kitante when I won the Open last week. So, I was finding it hard to let go of that, to stop thinking about it, and to manage the excitement from winning the Open,” Rugumayo said.

“After those first two rounds, though, I told myself, 'You know, it is what it is. You won the Open, which is great, but you're in another tournament right now. You need to move on from last week and focus on being present here.”

Despite his strong performance, Rugumayo holds only a one-stroke lead over Abraham Ainamani.

“There's still a lot of golf left to play. I mean, I'm at nine under, and the person in second is at eight under. I don't want to get ahead of myself or overthink things. I still have some work to do tomorrow. I just need to come back with the same mindset, take it one shot at a time, create as many opportunities as I can, focus on what I can control on the course, and wait for the day to unfold.” “But it was my mental state that did it for me.

“As you all know, golf is a mental game. I remember my mental coach used to say, "Your brain perceives, your mind receives, and your body reacts." So, if you go out there thinking positively, thinking good thoughts, your body will naturally respond that way.”

He said everything around his game was good. My driving was solid, hitting greens was good, my chipping was good, and my putting was good. I'd say everything was pretty solid today,” Rugumayo stated.

Ainamani, an Entebbe Club player who won the first event in the series in April, delivered a strong round with six birdies, limited only by bogeys on holes 5 and 16. Overnight leader Deo Akope could not match his earlier performance, carding a 75 to fall to fourth, tied with Grace Kasango at 212, eight strokes behind.

Irene Nakalembe, who shot 67 on Wednesday, also dropped to ninth after returning a 75. Emma Ogwang’s third-round 77 moved him out of the top ten, while David Kamulindwa and Silver Opio improved to tie for sixth at 213 strokes each.

Ronald Rugumayo 70 71 63 204

Abraham Ainamani 68 70 67 205

Rodell Gaita 67 70 69 206

Grace Kasango 72 70 70 212

Deo Akope 68 69 75 212

David Kamulindwa 74 70 69 213

Silver Opio 76 68 69 213

Herman Mutaawe 71 72 71 215

Ronald Otile 67 78 71 216

Davis Kato 73 70 73 216

Irene Nakalembe 74 67 75 216