I threw it away - Byamukama
Sep 01, 2009
PETER Ssendawula won the 69th Uganda Golf Open but the four-day event will be remembered for Vincent Byamukama’s blunder on the final hole.
By Douglas Mazune and James Bakama
in Entebbe
PETER Ssendawula won the 69th Uganda Golf Open but the four-day event will be remembered for Vincent Byamukama’s blunder on the final hole.
With several of his fans already toasting in the gallery, Byamukama who had a one stroke lead on hole 17 sent his tee shot into the rough before a double bogey on the 18th.
It was then that Ssendawula pounced to claim the uganda telecom winners’ Blue Jacket by a stroke.
“I could have lost any other way. But blowing it up on the final hole on my home course was really hurting,†said a devastated Byamukama.
That it was his fourth futile attempt at Uganda’s biggest golf prize further heightened his disappointment.
Byamukama said he regretted having taken a cautious tee shot, which instead went out of bounds.
In contrast, Ssendawula’s surge to victory epitomised cool nerves. At no point did he show any anxiety. Not even after missing seemingly easy birdie shots.
As Byamukama was cursing in frustration, Ssendawula remained focused with basic strokes.
Victory assured Ssendawula’s graduation into the money making professional ranks.
“It’s time I earned some money from golf. Playing as an amateur has not been easy,†explained Ssendawula. He said as an amateur, he couldnt afford a caddie.
Kenya’s Richard Ainely was the man to beat in the professional category. With almost faultless strokes, he twice equalled the Entebbe par 71 course record of 66.
The major sponsor Uganda telecom funded the tournament to the tune of sh101m.
in Entebbe
PETER Ssendawula won the 69th Uganda Golf Open but the four-day event will be remembered for Vincent Byamukama’s blunder on the final hole.
With several of his fans already toasting in the gallery, Byamukama who had a one stroke lead on hole 17 sent his tee shot into the rough before a double bogey on the 18th.
It was then that Ssendawula pounced to claim the uganda telecom winners’ Blue Jacket by a stroke.
“I could have lost any other way. But blowing it up on the final hole on my home course was really hurting,†said a devastated Byamukama.
That it was his fourth futile attempt at Uganda’s biggest golf prize further heightened his disappointment.
Byamukama said he regretted having taken a cautious tee shot, which instead went out of bounds.
In contrast, Ssendawula’s surge to victory epitomised cool nerves. At no point did he show any anxiety. Not even after missing seemingly easy birdie shots.
As Byamukama was cursing in frustration, Ssendawula remained focused with basic strokes.
Victory assured Ssendawula’s graduation into the money making professional ranks.
“It’s time I earned some money from golf. Playing as an amateur has not been easy,†explained Ssendawula. He said as an amateur, he couldnt afford a caddie.
Kenya’s Richard Ainely was the man to beat in the professional category. With almost faultless strokes, he twice equalled the Entebbe par 71 course record of 66.
The major sponsor Uganda telecom funded the tournament to the tune of sh101m.