Zambia's Madalisto bags Uganda Professionals Open

Sep 15, 2019

It was the second time that the Sunshine Tour player who walked away with sh41m was winning on Ugandan soil, following a similar victory in Kampala in 2015.

 
Zambia's Madalisto Muthiya carded an overall nine-under-par 279 to win the Castle Lite Uganda Professionals Open at the Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort and Spa on Saturday.
 
It was the second time that the Sunshine Tour player who walked away with sh41m was winning on Ugandan soil, following a similar victory in Kampala in 2015.
 
Despite struggling a little bit in the final round, Muthiya had set a five-stroke lead going into the last round that he hangs on to beat Zimbabwe's Charamba Tongoona who finished second by four strokes.
 
Tongoona picked  sh27m while former winners Stephen Ferreira and Dismas Indiza pocketed sh15m and sh11m respectively.
 
It was a spectacle watching the champion play alongside five-time winner Kenya's Dismas Indiza who had in the third round broken the course record with a bogey-free round, returning nine-under 63. His score on the day bettered the course record of 66 gross, set by amateur golfer Ronald Otile last week. Muthiya had though, equaled the record in the second round of the competition.
 

 Phillip Kasozi was Uganda's best player

The Kenyan veteran golfer's display brought him within five strokes of the leader and everyone was anxious to see whether he would replicate his third round antics.
 
But it was never to be as Muthiya despite registering four bogeys on holes; 3, 6, 7, 11, wrapped it up with birdies on the par-5 and par-4 holes; 2 and 16, and an eagle on the par-5 hole 13.
 
"I started fairly well and had an exceptional round on day-two; I had six birdies and no drop shots which was very nice," Muthiya said.
 
"In the third round I shot 69 but I thought I would have done better; today was a bit of a grind on the first nine but I made the turn and momentum really switched on hole-12 where I chipped from the bunker and then made eagle on 13 before finishing it off with a par.
 
"There was a bit of pressure but I just stuck to my guns and just wanted to bring my score a little bit down and got the pars that I wanted and I'm excited about that.
 
Muthiya who fell in love with the golf course just like the rest of the foreign professionals thanked the organisers for all they had put in preparations.
 
"It's very exciting winning it on this incredible and amazing golf course; well done to the organisers, the sponsors and the course management, thank you so much for having us and hopefully, they can make it bigger and better.

 Zambia's Madalisto Muthiya receives the Castle Lite Uganda Open professionals trophy from Minister Kiwanda Ssuubi (2nd right) after the tournament 

"Thanks for Castle Lite as well for creating a platform for all golfers where they can show their golf skills and also derive a living from it," Muthiya stated.
 
The three Ugandans who made the cut; Phillip Kasozi, Abraham Ainemani finished 13th, 24th, and 31st taking home a combined sh7m.
 
Uganda's best player was Phillip Kasozi who tied in 13th place with Zambia's John Dayne Moore sharing out sh3.3m each. Abraham Ainemani tied in 24th position with Kenya's C.J. Wangai, Ngugi Njuguna, and Nigeria's Willy Gift, taking home sh2m each while Opio Onito pocketed sh1.5m.
 
National team amateur players Rodell Gaita and Denis Asaba who also made the cut and are not entitled to the cash put up a good show, finishing 22nd and 28th out of 32 players who made the cut.
 
The tournament was co-sponsored by ABSA, Liquid Telecom, Britam, Time Cop, Minet, Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), Pepsi, NTV, Isuzu and Lake Victoria Serena.
 
Leaderboard-Top ten
 
Madalitso Muthiya (ZAM) 72 66 69 72 279 (sh41m)
 
Charamba Tongoona (ZIM) 70 71 70 72 283 (sh27)
 
Ferreira Stephen (RSA) 76 69 68 71 284 (sh15m)
 
Dismas Indiza (KEN) 73 76 63 73 285 (sh11m)
 
Nel Andre (RSA) 76 68 73 69 286 (sh7m)
 
Simon Ngige (KEN) 74 72 71 71 288 (sh6m)
 
Rizwan Charania (KEN) 75 67 76 71 289 (sh5.7m)
 
Meyer Breyten (RSA) 75 67 73 74 289 (sh5m)
 
Irvin Thato Mazibuko (RSA) 68 73 74 289 (sh4.5)
 
Greg Snow (KEN) 76 73 75 66 290 (sh4.3m)
 
Robson Chinhoi (ZIM) 71 73 75 71 290 (sh4.3m)
 
Visitor Mapwanya (ZIM) 73 73 71 75 292
 
Phillip Kasozi (UG) 75 73 74 71 293
 
John Dayne Moore (ZAM) 73 74 73 73 293
 
Mohit Medirata (KEN) 76 69 76 74 295
 
Kopan Timbe (KEN) 75 74 75 73 297
 
Erick Obura Ooko (KEN) 75 73 79 70 297
 
Florent Ales (FRA) 75 72 76 74 297
 
Justus Madoya (KEN) 70 78 77 73 298
 
Muyambo Nyasha (ZIM) 70 78 77 73 298
 
Andrew Odo (NIG) 73 74 76 76 299
 
Rodell Gaita (AM) 73 75 74 78 300
 
Edwin Mudanyi (KEN) 74 73 75 78 300
 
Willy Gift (NIG) 79 72 75 75 301
 
Ainamani Abraham (UG) 73 72 78 78 301
 
Ngugi Njuguna (KEN) 73 77 76 75 301
 
C.J. Wangai (KEN) 79 70 74 78 301
 
Niang Samba (SEN) 73 77 73 84 307
 
Denis Asaba (AM) 74 75 75 83 307
 
Mathew Wahome (KEN) 75 77 80 77 309
 
Opio Onito (UG) 75 73 78 85 311
 
Shah Sujan Vimal (KEN) 73 78 82 79 312

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