Three Uganda national team players are in South Africa to compete in the inaugural Royal and Ancient (R&A) African Amateur Championship at the Leopard Creek Golf Club course from February 21 to 24.

Reigning Uganda Open champion Godfrey Nsubuga will represent Uganda alongside national team captain and former champions Joseph Cwinya-ai and Andrew Ssekibejja who are all already in South Africa for the championship that will feature 72 men from the continent.

The Ugandans will battle the rest of the strong field in a 72-hole (four rounds) format, with the winner receiving an exemption in The 152nd Open’ at Royal Troon course in Scotland.

Godfrey Nsubuga who benefitted from the R&A training will be in South Africa. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

The world’s best golfers will all be vying to join the list of champions in 2024, as they look to write their piece of history and become Champion Golfer of the Year at Royal Troon.

Of the three Ugandans, Nsubuga is the better-ranked (223) having enjoyed four wins last year including the NCBA Tanzania Open, Tea Fields Trophy, and the Nyali Opens in Kenya as well as the Johnnie Walker Uganda Open.

Cwinyaai is currently ranked 2337th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking while Ssekibejja is ranked 2245th.

Nsubuga flew in on Sunday from the Winston Salem State University in North Carolina where he recently relocated to pursue a degree in Computer and Information Science as he plays golf for the university.

“My target is to perform well and finish in the top positions,” Ssekibejja noted via chat.

Cwinya-ai is also targeting a top-ten finish. “As usual I expect high and better performance from me.,” Cwinya-ai stated.

“I look forward to playing to my best as I also enjoy myself,” Nsubuga said before he

The Ugandans will be up against the likes of South Africa’s Christiaan Maas, 20, who is ranked 13th as well as Altin Van der Merwe (196) and Jordan Burnand (288).

Morroco’s El Mehdi Fakori who is ranked 234th and El Mehdi Fakori (274) are also in the running for the championship that has also attracted eight Kenyans including Adel Balala (426) and Ebill Omollo who is ranked 723rd.

The championship has attracted golfers from 24 African countries.

An invitational event for 20 elite women from the region will also be held at the venue during the week of the championship. South Africans Zane Kleynhans and Kyra Van Kan of South Africa lead the competition on that front.

The introduction of the championship complements existing amateur championships jointly organized by the R&A in Asia-Pacific and Latin America and will enable players from Africa to play at the highest level, as well as create a pathway for African golfers to develop and become an inspiration for others to follow.

The championship will also build on an Africa High-Performance Program established last year by the R&A and delivered to players and coaches in African countries as part of a wider effort to develop golf and provide support to players aspiring to reach elite levels of the sport.