Otile to defend his Uganda Golf Open titles

Tusker Malt Uganda Golf Open defending champion Ronald Otile is excited about the prospect of defending his title at the 82^nd edition of the championship due August 10-13.

After doubts on whether he will make it from South Africa where he is pursuing a three year course at the University of Pretoria, it has been confirmed that he will be around to defend it.

The Uganda Golf Union has offered to fly him in from South Africa to defend the trophy.

According to UGU president Johnson Omolo, Otile jets in on Sunday ready to take on a strong field of amateur golfers from Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia.

"It would be bad for the Open to go ahead without the defending champion, so we are flying him in to defend his title," Omolo said.

Coming off winning the Windhoek Lager Africa Jacket title, Zambia's Aaron Simfukwe will be one of the main threats to Otile but the 2015 double champion is unfazed by the challenge.

"Wow! It really feels so good to be coming. I've been training hard for the last two weeks to defend my title, so this is a great opportunity," Otile said when contacted from his base.

And the winners' prize of an all expenses trip to Abu Dhabi is even an extra motivation for the 21 year old, who shook the golf scene last year by winning both the amateur and professional tournaments.

Otile has averaged scores of three-over-over-par 75 on different courses in South Africa which are more challenging than the Kitante course and he believes he can even surpass last year's performance.

Otile poses with his Uganda Open trophy last year. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

"I'm not bothered by Simfukwe presence because I know his game and we're on the same level so the best player will win," Otile said.

"I think I can now do 68-70 gross each round at Kitante because here I have even scored 68 in some rounds here," he added.

Otile and Daniel Baguma's are on a three-year golf scholarship at the University of Pretoria courtesy of the Royal and Ancient Club of Scotland where he is doing the 'Champ Elite Golf' course designed to help people become serious professionals while Baguma is doing a Diploma Golf Course for both professionals and management of the game.