Uganda finishes 5th at African Golf Challenge

By Michael Nsubuga

Last round Team standings (best three scores)

South Africa 220+223+214+216 873
Zimbabwe 232+222 +224+230 908
Zambia 222+238+226+237 923
Reunion 231+233+232+235 931
Uganda 231+236+236+239 942
Kenya 238+238+239+242 957
Tunisia 233+245+240+240 958
Namibia 255+237+244+250 986
Botswana 246+261+240+242 989
Mauritius 271+254+254+264 1043
Malawi 280+288+289+262 1119

Individual Scores (Uganda)
Daniel Baguma 75+83+80+72 310
Denis Otim 79+78+80+85 322
Andrew Byaruhanga 77+79+85+90 331
Ronald Otile 87+79+76+82 324

Daniel Baguma saved the best for last returning 72 gross on the last day, but it didn’t affect the standings as Uganda finished 5th at the All Africa Junior Golf Challenge at the Chainama Hills Golf Club in Zambia.

His score (72) on the last day was the third best behind South Africa’s Altin van der Merwe (70) and Jovan Rebula (71).
 

Baguma with 310 gross was Uganda’s best player overall, with Denis Otim (322), Andrew Byaruhanga (331) and Ronald Otile 324 following respectively.
 

In the last round, Ronald Otile and Denis Otim added 82 and 85 respectively to help Uganda stay in 5th place, a position they have held since day two.
 

The Ugandans opened the tournament strongly in third position after day-one action but slipped on day two and never recovered, but have managed to maintain 5th spot since. Last year Uganda finished 4th in Mauritius.

South Africa successfully defended their title, winning the Championship with a cumulative gross score of 873 over four days to claim the country’s 16th consecutive victory in the prestigious team event on Thursday.
 

The defending champions combined for a final round 216 to end the week on top, while last year’s silver medalists, Zimbabwe wrapped up the runner-up spot – and a trip to the Toyota Junior Golf World Cup in Japan – on 908 with a final round 230 gross.