Namakula to challenge men in sh145m pro's open

Flavia Namakula wants a share of the sh145m that is up for grabs in the Tusker Malt Uganda Open that tees off at Kitante on Wednesday.

She is set to challenge the big field of male professionals from within and outside Uganda when she competes in her first local tournament as a professional.

Sounding confident Namakula who turned pro last year, said she was not scared by the strong field that is registered for the event.

"Everyone has his or her game so I'm not intimidated and I'm ready to take them on, remember I there is no turning back to the amateur ranks for me" Namakula who will play from the men's tee said.

In golf and most sports competitions, scoring mostly separates the winners from the losers and it is the reason why Uganda professional golfer Phillip Kasozi has dedicated most of his time in the build up to the Tusker Malt Lager Uganda Open on that-finishing.

Asked if this the time he thinks he can win it as a pro, Kasozi who won the amateur version of the event in 2012 says he is in great shape ahead of tee-off but cannot promise much until he makes the cut after the first two rounds.

"My friend this is a different ball game unlike in the amateurs. There is a lot of pressure that comes with playing in such a competition, but I'm set and I think I will play well but I can't promise that I will win it," Kasozi who shot three-under-par 69 to top a sh6m warm up competition last Friday at Kitante said.

"Finishing is what normally distinguishes us form the rest of the field that is why I have dedicated most of my preparation on that. Even if you can hit as far as any pro, you can't win unless you're a clinical finisher and that is what I'm praying for, and I'll leave the rest to God," Kasozi stated.