Kasaija shows mettle to win Open
Mar 14, 2005
STEPHEN Kasaija’s amazing ability to recover from difficult situations enabled him to escape out of the jaws of defeat in Western Open golf tournament on Sunday.
By Douglas Mazune
in Fort Portal
Playoff winner:
S. Kasaija
Leader-board:
S. Kasaija 68 69 137
G. Mande 67 70 137
C. Yokwe 71 68 139
A. Kamya 72 68 140
D. Anguyo 77 69 146
G. Kituku 75 77 152
P. Obita 75 78 153
STEPHEN Kasaija’s amazing ability to recover from difficult situations enabled him to escape out of the jaws of defeat in Western Open golf tournament on Sunday.
On hole 13 Kasaija who surrendered a two-stroke lead that he had seize early on the final day.
He went on to trail Entebbe’s Godfrey Mande by one stroke on hole 16, having fired his tee shot in the rough. Even then he recovered by attacking the pin from the rough to avoid a bogey.
On the do-or-do and tricky 18th hole, Kasaija’s ball hit one of the three trees overlooking the tee box and landed a few steps away.
Kasaija’s seemingly diminishing fortunes attracted murmurs from his supporter but the local star lit a cigarette and remained composed.
In two shots Mande was at the edge of the green but poor putting cost him the tournament.
Kasaija showed his mastery of the home course sinking a birdie with a long putt to push the contest to a playoff amidst wild cheers from the fans.
Kasaija won the duel.
Charles Yokwe, Amos Kamya and Denis Anguyo each played a round under the par-70 course in the highly competitive Uganda Golf Union (UGU) event.
Top players left Fort Portal eager to lock horn in the next event in Kabale on Easter weekend.
The UGU calendar promises a season of great golf under the newly adopted stroke-play format.
The UGU will soon release championship points scoring system.
in Fort Portal
Playoff winner:
S. Kasaija
Leader-board:
S. Kasaija 68 69 137
G. Mande 67 70 137
C. Yokwe 71 68 139
A. Kamya 72 68 140
D. Anguyo 77 69 146
G. Kituku 75 77 152
P. Obita 75 78 153
STEPHEN Kasaija’s amazing ability to recover from difficult situations enabled him to escape out of the jaws of defeat in Western Open golf tournament on Sunday.
On hole 13 Kasaija who surrendered a two-stroke lead that he had seize early on the final day.
He went on to trail Entebbe’s Godfrey Mande by one stroke on hole 16, having fired his tee shot in the rough. Even then he recovered by attacking the pin from the rough to avoid a bogey.
On the do-or-do and tricky 18th hole, Kasaija’s ball hit one of the three trees overlooking the tee box and landed a few steps away.
Kasaija’s seemingly diminishing fortunes attracted murmurs from his supporter but the local star lit a cigarette and remained composed.
In two shots Mande was at the edge of the green but poor putting cost him the tournament.
Kasaija showed his mastery of the home course sinking a birdie with a long putt to push the contest to a playoff amidst wild cheers from the fans.
Kasaija won the duel.
Charles Yokwe, Amos Kamya and Denis Anguyo each played a round under the par-70 course in the highly competitive Uganda Golf Union (UGU) event.
Top players left Fort Portal eager to lock horn in the next event in Kabale on Easter weekend.
The UGU calendar promises a season of great golf under the newly adopted stroke-play format.
The UGU will soon release championship points scoring system.