Foreign players told to expect tough Uganda Open course

There was a lot excitement when Flavia Namakula turned pro and left the Tusker Malt Lager Uganda Open title up for grabs.

The Tanzanians picked the most interest in the development and have registered 15 competitors for the three-day event teeing off Thursday.

When you add on other entries from Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and Nigeria and the strong cast from Uganda, it all points to an interesting but tight contest.

Tournament director Innocent Kihika believes this is going to be one of the most interesting and challenging ladies open tournaments ever.

"Personally I don't know who is in pole position at the moment, but it is going to be very interesting. The number of entrants coming in from the region has increased not only for the ladies but for the main amateur event as well," Kihika said.

Kihika said the event had attracted a lot of international interest with the national team of Kenya set to send about 12 players. Rwanda with 7 and 4 from Tanzania and others from Ethiopia and had started getting registration from as far as Ghana and Nigeria on the side of the professionals.

"In the professionals the kitty is growing bigger and we are paying out sh145m so when it gets bigger the numbers grow" Kihika noted.

"The new water features on the course on holes No.4 and 12 and the deep bankers on hole-No.18 this is something the foreign players have not seen on this course, so this will give an advantage to local players especially for those who play regularly at Kitante, but for the local upcountry players it will also be a challenge for them," Kihika noted.

He said there will be a nearest to the pin shoot-out on Thursday before those playing in the subsidiary event (Men's Groups A&C) join the fray on Friday. The men Group B will play on Saturday.

The ladies open will be followed by the amateur open, September 13-16 before the professionals get to the course from September 27-30.