Golf battle

Oct 19, 2004

SINCE 1994, winners of the prestigious Uganda Amateur Open golf title have only relinquished it after enjoying a hat-trick of wins

By Douglas Mazune
and William muwonge

SINCE 1994, winners of the prestigious Uganda Amateur Open golf title have only relinquished it after enjoying a hat-trick of wins.
Champion Charles Yokwe will be under intense pressure to emulate the feat when the 63th Uganda Open tees off today.

Naturally Yokwe wants to emulate his father Sadi Onito (‘94-96), Stephen ‘Tiger Woods’ Birungi (‘97-99) and Deo Akope (2000-2002) who have won hat-tricks since 1994.
“I want to retain my title and then go for a hat-trick,” Yokwe said.
The 2004 MTN Uganda Golf Open is expected to be one of the stiffest ever, with over a dozen contenders from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda.

Yokwe takes to the par-72 Kitante course at 7.30am to defend his title in a strong field littered with a host of scratch players.
In form Yokwe shot four under par-68 for four consecutive days during practice last week sparking off speculations that the course record of 65 equalled by Akope in 2000 is under threat.

But Akope strongly believes the course record is safe. “The course is tougher than ever before. The new greens are tricky, putting on them is not going to be easy,” said 26-year-old Akope who equalled Richard Palmer’s record that had stood for over three decades.

Holes one, four, seven, 13 and 16 have the new greens.
The tournament has a professional category that has attracted 20 players. The first group of professionals will tee off at 10.40am while the subsidiary event gets underway at 11.30am.

MTN have pumped sh160m into the Open and East African Challenge next week.
The stroke-play tournament will miss 12-time winner Onito who died three weeks ago.

Players to watch

Uganda
Charles Yokwe

He is the defending champion. The scratch player represents the new crop of exciting young golfers. He drives the ball well.

Deo Akope
The scratch player is seeking to recapture the title. He is an all round player, composed under pressure, brilliant at putting and chipping. In 2000 he carded a course record equalling 65.

Stephen Kasaija
Makes a seventh attempt at the elusive title. The scratch player from Fort Portal is an excellent hitter. Second in 2002.

KENYA
David Odhiambo

The scratch player is the number one back home, boasting a string of big wins. Was fourth in 2001.

Kopan Timbe
The Nairobi star (hc/2) is making a second appearance. He has captured the Kenya match play and strokeplay titles before.

Tanzania
Olais Mollel

The experienced scratch player from Arusha, is set for a fourth attempt . He was 2nd in 2001.

Rwanda
Emmanuel Ruterana

The 22-year-old is the new revelation from Kigali. He plays off scratch.

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