Singleton Golf Challenge first round produces the expected sparks as teams progress

The Singleton Golf Challenge first round served the ‘perfect gin and tonic’ as teams battled to stay in the main event of the four-ball-better-ball match-play tournament at Entebbe Club on Saturday.

Most of the match-ups were highly contested affairs with the first match of the day between­­­ James Okema/Emmanuel Lwanga against Elly Mukasa/Kiryowa Kiwanuka ending with the latter winning 2 up.

Peter Atwine/Bob Matsiko also registered the same score against Richard Mugisha/Louis Tumukunde while the duels between Innocent Kihiika/Morris Ongwech versus Darius Mugisha/Henry Ssali and of William Esuma/Anne Abeja versus John Basabose who played without his partner, where settled after an extra sudden-death hole after they had squared it out after the 18 holes. Kihika and co and Esuma and Abeja won the matches.

Marvin Kagoro/Oscar Semawere were bundled out by Andrew Atuhaire/P. Habyarimana; 1up, while last year’s quarterfinalists and popular pair of the Kagombes, Charles, and Edrea could not replicate last year’s heroics as they lost to the combination of former champions, Robert Busingye/Innocent Nahabwe; 5&4 (won by five holes, with four to play).

The only couple team that is still in the fray is that of Ellis Katwebaze/ Evelyn Natukunda who eliminated Stephen Magero/Dickson Akena after a 4&3 win.

Qualifying for the next round also was the ladies’ pairs of Lillian Koowe and Joyce Kisembo and Peace Kabasweka/Sheila Kesiime who beat Harry Hakiza/Jerry Owachi; 1up and Connie N/Arnold Bagubwagye, 3&1 respectively.

We are so happy to have qualified. We exhibited a lot of confidence because we planned for the match before and we worked as a team,” We are from the same club and so we know each other, and we hope we can still go past our next opponents in the next round,” Koowe said.

“We are going to practice more now because we know there is more pressure ahead,” Kisembo added.

The pair will take on Saleh Kalema/Edward Okech who eliminated Alex Nkuyahaga/Chris Magezi, in the second round. Samson Agamile/Robert Ejiku also prevailed over Boniface Toko/B. Bakantumaho; 1up. Ejiku and Agamile said they overcame one of the most competitive opponents who pushed them up to the end.

“It was a tough match; the guys couldn’t let us breathe because they kept on crawling back. It was very competitive and we enjoyed it,” Agamile (HC 9) stated.

“Our strategy was to ensure we don’t give them a chance and to maximize our chances where we had an advantage. The match could have ended earlier but we made a small mistake on hole 15 which gave them a chance to level the match on holes 16 and 17 before we won it on the 18th,”

“We need to prepare better taking into account who our next opponents are; assess them and strategies accordingly, but it is all about playing to our strengths,” Ejiku who plays off handicap 12 said.

Another tough encounter pitted Fred Magala/Godwin Murungi against Jude Ochieng/Peter Wakholi, which the latter won 1-up.

“It was a tough match. We were up against a single handicapper who was playing off scratch. We were two-up by hole four but he caught up at hole-16 and we had to level at 17      before winning it on the 18th. It was tough but interesting and it is always a pleasure to be on the course,” Magala noted.

The second round (Round of 32) will be held on August 26.

Charles Mubiru (39pts), Alexander Matsiko (42), Samson Akankiza (41), and Isaac Rwakira (41) were the top players in the men’s Groups A-D respectively in the subsidiary event while Martha Babirye and Edith Wamalwa topped the ladies’ groups A and B respectively, as Samuel Sejjaka (34pts) took the seniors’ gong.

Singleton round one subsidiary results

Group A

Charles Mubiru 39pts

Peter Apell 37

Group B

Alexander Matsiko 42pts

Albert Gitta 38

Group C

Samson Akankiza 41pts

Alex Mukasa 39

Group D

Isaac Rwakira 41pts

Michael Bironse 38

Group A-Ladies

Martha Babirye 36pts

Bernadette Musanabera 36

Group B

Edith Wamalwa 40pts

Faith Namara 36

Seniors 55+

Samuel Sejjaka 34pts

Longest drives

Lawrence Walakira

Rukia Nalwoga

Nearest to the pin

Martha Babirye

Dean Kateeba

--