Ugandan amateurs fail golf match-play test in Kenya

Ugandan top amateur and national team golfers got a test of what awaits them in the Victoria Cup as they competed in the Kenya Amateur Match-Play Championships played at the Royal Nairobi Golf Club Course, June 16-19.

With no match-play competitions in the country for them, the Kenya event provided a good feel and test to five Ugandans that included Joseph Cwinya-ai, Joseph Kasozi, Ibrahim Bagalana, Godfrey Nsubuga, and Michael Alunga, who has competed in more Kenyan tournaments this year.

But the match-play was tough for all the Ugandans as it was only Cwinya-ai that went up to the quarter-finals where he lost to Limuru Country Club’s Dennis Maara; 5&4. Maara went to win the championship after a 7&6 win over Royal Nairobi Golf Club’s Jay Sandhu.

Cwinya-ai had eliminated compatriot Alunga in the last 16 stage while the other Ugandans had bowed out much earlier.

“We lost because we don't have match play tournaments in Uganda to keep us in shape for such events. We would have that experience if say they allowed us to compete in Singleton because it's the only match play event in Uganda,” Alunga noted.

But Uganda Golf Club’s Alunga can take heart that he is still in good standing for the Kenya Amateur Stroke Play Championship which he is vying for with the top Kenyan amateurs.

Currently, Alunga is third in the standings behind Maara and Sandhu, having overtaken John Lerjirma who won the 2020 Uganda Open by a position.

Alunga has so far amassed 272.5 points from 11 events while Maara who leads has played two less leads with 346.3, having finished in better positions in at least five events so far.

Second-placed Sandhu is on 342.6 points.

The two-nation Victoria Cup between Kenya and Uganda is played over two legs with each country hosting one. This year’s first leg will be hosted by Kenya next month.