Nakalembe hopeful of Entebbe ladies open title defence

Top 5

Irene Nakalembe 81

Eva Magala 83

Katy Kabenge 83

Esther Okullo 87

Harriet Kitaka 88

Despite returning nine-over-par 81, in the opening round of the Castle Lite Entebbe Ladies Golf Open, defending champion Irene Nakalembe remains on course to retain the title after taking a two stroke lead.

After the first round of the sixth edition-36-hole competition, Nakalembe is two strokes ahead of Eva Magala and Katy Kabenge who are joint second after returning 83 gross each.

Former Uganda Ladies Union president Esther Okullo is third with 87 gross while Harriet Kitaka and Jenina Nasimolo are joint fourth with 88 gross each while former champion Monica Ntege is fifth going into the last round due on Saturday.

"I made so many mistakes today but I still have a chance of winning it,"  Nakalembe who scored a triple bogey  on the par 4 hole number 3 and a double bogey on hole number 16 (par 3) said after day-one action.

Over forty ladies are competing for the title in the annual tournament that will also have men playing in the subsidiary category on Saturday. The men will play from the ladies' tees as is the norm in this competition.