Foreign professionals on fire ahead of Uganda Open

News that some of the foreign professional golfers that are set to compete for the top cash prizes in the Tusker Malt Uganda Professionals Open, are doing well ahead of the event due, August 30-September 3, must spur the locals to work even harder.

Apart from defending champions Zambia's Madalisto Muthiya who has already confirmed participation, and is coming off another victory at the BMW Open in South Africa, Kenya's Stefan Engell is the other golfer the Ugandans must work hard to dislodge from the top positions where the big money is.

The Kenyan shot a 7-under- par 65 in the final round of the Vodacom Origins Arabella on the Sunshine Tour in Cape Town, Saturday for second overall position, one-shot behind South Africa's Vaughn Groenwald on 8-under par, to make him the best placed Kenyan pro golfer in a tournament on the Sunshine Tour in recent years.

His earnings after the tournament propelled him from 133th to 82^nd on the Order of Merit with a chance of getting his full Sunshine Tour card for the 2017 mid-season. Last year, he finished 6^th in the Uganda Open, taking home sh4m.

One of South Africa's finest pro golfers, Joshua Seale, has also confirmed participation in the annual tournament.

Last year, Madalitso recorded a 5 under par 67 in the first and third rounds to win the Tusker Malt Uganda Open Professionals title at Kitante Golf Course with 283 gross aggregate.

But amateur golfer Ronald Otile topped the event a stroke better with 282 gross, though he was not eligible for a share of the money.

Uganda's best performers last year included Herman Mutaawe (9^th), Phillip Kasozi (12^th), Willy Kitatta and Saidi Mawa (15^th) and Fred Wanzala (25^th).