Uganda up by a point as the Victoria Cup starts
Uganda had a strong performance in the four-ball better-ball format, earning 3.5 points against their opponents while allowing only 0.5 points.
Uganda's Elton Thembo won his better ball match with Joseph Kakooza. Photo by Michael Nsubuga
Michael Nsubuga
Sports journalist @New Vision
The Uganda national golf team took a one-point lead as the seventh edition of the Victoria Cup started at the Mt. Kipipiri Golf Resort in Naivasha on Thursday.
Uganda had a strong performance in the four-ball better-ball format, earning 3.5 points against their opponents while allowing only 0.5 points.
The pairs of Abdallah Kakooza/Titus Okwong, Joseph Cwinyaai/Abdu Kakeeto, and Elton Thembo/Ibrahim Ssemakula won their matches against Josphat Rono/Raphael Leminga’ni, Elvis Muigua/Kevin Anyien, and Tsevi Soni/Krish Shah Beiju, winning by scores of 3&1, 2&1, and 3&2 respectively.
John Musiimenta and Reagan Akena halved their match against John Lejrima/Daniel Kiragu before Kenya recovered to win 3-1 in the foursomes after a switch in their pairings.
In the foursomes, Muigua/Shah defeated Kakooza/Anthony Otukei, 3&2, Kiragu/Rono beat Musiimenta/Kakeeto, 5&3, with Leminga’ni/Ebill Omollo, winning over Cwiyaai/Ssemakula, 2&1.
Only the Joseph Akena/Peter Mayende partnership that managed a massive 7&6 win against Lejrima/Elly Barno in the format where the two players from each side’s team play one ball, taking alternate shots until they hole out.
The same formats will be repeated on Friday before the ten matches in the singles. The tournament started in 2016 with Kenya winning the first three editions before Uganda won the tournament on home soil in 2019—before the COVID-19 pandemic frustrated the 2020 and 2021 editions.
It resumed in 2022 with Kenya dominating proceedings at Limuru Golf Club, beating Uganda by 21-5 points over the three rounds before last year’s contest ended all square.
Day one results
Kenya 3.5pts
Uganda 4.5
Comments
No Comment