Uganda fifth as All Africa Challenge Trophy starts in Morocco

The Uganda national ladies golf team had a fairly good start as the 16th edition of the All-Africa Challenge Trophy started at the Tazegzout Golf Course, Agadir, in Morocco yesterday.

After the opening round at the par-72 course Uganda is placed fifth alongside their neighbours Tanzania who all produced a uniform score of 161 gross from their two best scorers each, after the first round.

Uganda’s scorers in the opening round were team captain Peace Kabasweka who carded an 8-over 80 and Meron Kyomugisha who scored 81; while Martha Babirye, Uganda’s third player managed a non-scoring 87.

Each of the 20 participating countries is represented by three players with the best two scores per round counting to the overall team’s scores over the 54 holes of competition. The Ugandans will attempt to better their sixth-place finish achieved in the previous championship hosted by Tanzania in 2022.

Record winners of the event, South Africa with 14 championships, are in the lead, two strokes ahead of hosts Morocco whose best players after the first round; Sofia Cherif Essakali and Rim Imni combined for 143. The South Africans were led by Kesha Louw and Coetzer Lisa who returned three-under 69 and level par 72 respectively.

Kenya in third, is the best-placed East African team, having scored 146 in the opening round. Mercy Nyachama (71) and Naomi Wafula (75) scored for Kenya while Bianca Ngecu returned a non-scoring 75.

The AACT is a biennial continental women’s golf championship that debuted in 1992. The first edition was organized by the Zimbabwe Ladies Golf Union at Chapman Golf Club in Harare. Since its inception in 1992, the AACT has provided a platform to promote and celebrate women’s golf in Africa.

This year’s tournament has drawn participants from 20 countries, including South Africa, Angola, Ghana, Egypt, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Tunisia, Uganda, Kenya, Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Namibia, among others.

Top ten

South Africa 141

Morocco 143

Kenya 146

Zimbabwe 160

Uganda 161

Tanzania 161

Egypt 163

Zambia 172

Botswana 172

Tunisia 174