By William Muwonge DEO Akope became the third player in 18 years to successfully defend the Amateur Open title after a winning display at Kitante Golf course on Sunday. The 23-year-old graduated to a group that has Stephen Birungi and Sadi Onito, local golf’s greatest player. Birungi clinched his first Open title in 1997, retained it the following year before completing a hat-trick in 1998. Onito, who boosts a record 12 wins, won the event in 1994 and 1995. He went a step better with a hat-trick the following year. Onito had won the event four years in a row in the 70’s. Akope stormed to victory in the 72-hole strokeplay event on account of his patient approach. Like in the past, the Entebbe player, made a low key start before he found his touch. Even when he lost six strokes for the first round score of 78, Akope remained composed. “It is not yet over, I am now planning for the next round,” Akope said. True to his words, Akope made a leap on the second day with level par 72. He then dropped one stroke in the third round that was marred by a downpour that affected many players. At one stage, players putted on flooded greens. “It is a tough challenge, the rain made the game much harder,” Akope said. Akope won the event for the first time last year in dazzling fashion. He carded a record 7-under par 65 on the final day to match the 1967 mark set by a Briton Palmer. In subsidiary event, Francis Ngabo (h/c 13) claimed victory at 288 nett. For the first time ever, the event drew professionals who competed in a separate event won by Kenya’s Anil Shah at 281 strokes. At the sametime, a computerised scoring system was for the first time applied at the championship by Net Paradise. Final leader boards (top ten) Open (h/c 0-8) D. Akope 78 72 73 73 296 O. Mollel 72 82 74 71 299 C. Yokwe 76 70 76 79 301 Odhiambo 74 72 78 79 303 S. Kasaija 74 77 79 74 304 M. Wachira 75 76 75 78 304 R. Waweru 74 79 79 73 305 A. Kabuye 76 79 77 78 310 J. Jaffar 79 78 79 76 312 F. Nkya 77 79 80 77 313 Subsidiary (h/c 10-15) F. Ngabo 72 76 70 70 288 D. Aguma 76 73 73 68 290 A. Virdee 74 74 72 70 290 Tumwebaze75 71 73 71 290 J. Mangat 78 69 70 73 290 J. Carvalho 73 78 71 69 291 A. Taban 71 75 73 73 292 D. Waweru 73 70 72 77 292 A. Bossa 74 72 72 75 293 S. Giti 82 71 73 68 294 Professionals A. Shah 72 68 73 68 281 J. Okello 71 67 72 73 283 Mwanyenza73 70 73 68 284 D. Ndiza 74 71 73 72 290 P. Njiru 71 74 72 75 292 C. Thethy 71 75 80 76 302 S. Atibu 81 75 75 78 309 J. Ngigi 82 76 74 79 311 J. Kisia 81 78 76 77 312 B. Okello 78 83 83 81 325 Ends