Emuriat wins Lira tourney to join elites

By William Muwonge in LiraJULIUS Emuriat joined the elite of Ugandan golf by winning the revived Lira golf Open on Sunday. The 22-year-old carded a 36-hole 137 nett under the heat at a dry par-70 home course. The course, some of whose greens are covered with sand, had it’s first event after over five years of neglect. A lot more work needs to be done on the course that lost a section to private developersEmuriat, playing off handicap 16, brought 67 on Sunday, cutting three strokes off his round of 70 on Saturday. Runner up was Flemming Eriksen at 140. Lady winner was Jennifer Opio at 156, a stroke better than second placed Grace Obua who beat Susan Otengo on countback at 157. “It was a tough event, the greens were fast, but it’s is a great feeling to win,” Emuriat said. But it was not all rosy for the civil engineering student at Lira Technical College. Emuriat, lacking sponsorship, had to borrow clubs to play his second competitive Uganda Golf Union event. “I would play a better game with my own clubs, I want to emulate national champion Deo Akope,” Emuriat said. Emuriat, who learnt the game with current national champion Akope in 1993, wants to take local golf’s biggest award. Results: Overall winner-J. Emuriat 137, F. Eriksen 140; Group A (h/c 0-12) A. Turakira 141, S. Zaramba 148, Aritua 150; Group B (h/c 13-18) A. Luka 142, Lapson 148, R. P’wang 149; Group C (h/c 19-28) W. Okae 142 c/b, G. Ewai, M. Okanyi. Ladies: J. Opio 156, G. Obua 157 c/b S. Otengo. - Fredrick Nyakabwa from Fort Portal adds that Stephen Mwesige (h/c9) of Kasese Golf Club carded 132 to win the inaugural Shell golf tournament at Toro Club on Sunday.Mwesige beat a field of 61 golfers from Kasese, Mbarara, Kabale, Jinja, Kampala, Entebbe and Fort Portal.Miriam Klug of Toro came top in the women event with 138 nett while Stephen Kasaija won the gross.Ends