Rwandan ace is man to watch
Oct 17, 2006
THE 2006 Uganda Amateur Golf Open that tees off tomorrow, will be the most open in years but, will also be filled with nostalgia.
By Douglas Mazune
Uganda Golf Open
Kitante
October 19-22
THE 2006 Uganda Amateur Golf Open that tees off tomorrow, will be the most open in years but, will also be filled with nostalgia.
The open is played a few months after 2005 champion Charles Yokwe died in a road accident on Jinja road. Yokwe won his second title in memory of his father, golf legend Sadi Onito who died earlier.
Yokwe would not have competed this time round, having joined the professional ranks with four of his contemporaries.
Deo Akope, Stephen Kasaija, Godfrey Mande and Dennis Anguyo all play for money these days. They will feature in the professional contest this weekend.
That leaves the four-day Uganda Open contest to George Olayo, Amos Kamya, Shaban Lwanga and Stephen ‘Tiger Woods’ Birungi.
Scratch player Birungi has won the open before (1997-1999). He was in buoyant mood after training on Monday.
“I respect my rivals but I still hope to get a fourth title,†he warned.
But the Ugandans will first have to beat on-form Rwandan ace, Emmanuel Ruterana, whose chance for glory might finally have come.
Ruterana upstaged a strong field of Ugandan golfers in the Independence Open in Kabale a fortnight ago.
He was expected to arrive in Kampala last evening for the Kitante course tournament that is jointly sponsored by Ericsson, Simba Telecom and MTN.
Scratch player Ruterana has had two top-10 finishes in the Uganda Open before.
“He is coming to win the big one now, he should be on his way,†a member of Kigali Golf Club said on phone.
The 72-hole stroke-play tournament limited to players below handicap 8, has all indications of an exciting showdown. The others will compete in the subsidiary and women categories.
r Top contenders for the prestigious Uganda Golf Open title at Kitante course might want to borrow Naru Thakkar’s magic 9 Iron club.
Using the 9 Iron, Thakkar fired a hole-in-one, his second in three months.
The elderly golfer pulled off the feat on hole 4 at the par-72 Kitante course on Saturday.
He was in the company of Thakkar P.A, Y. Sidpra and S. Kohli
Golf tradition is that when one scores a hole-in-one, they have to buy drinks for all the ‘lucky’ members present at the club house.
Uganda Open winners
since 1990
1990 D. Kagonyera
1991 S. Onito
1992 J. Jaffer
1993 J. Gavin
1994 S. Onito
1995 S. Onito
1996 S. Onito
1997 S. Birungi
1998 S. Birungi
1999 S. Birungi
2000 D. Akope
2001 D. Akope
2002 D. Akope
2003 C. Yokwe
2004 D. Odhiambo
2005 C. Yokwe
Uganda Golf Open
Kitante
October 19-22
THE 2006 Uganda Amateur Golf Open that tees off tomorrow, will be the most open in years but, will also be filled with nostalgia.
The open is played a few months after 2005 champion Charles Yokwe died in a road accident on Jinja road. Yokwe won his second title in memory of his father, golf legend Sadi Onito who died earlier.
Yokwe would not have competed this time round, having joined the professional ranks with four of his contemporaries.
Deo Akope, Stephen Kasaija, Godfrey Mande and Dennis Anguyo all play for money these days. They will feature in the professional contest this weekend.
That leaves the four-day Uganda Open contest to George Olayo, Amos Kamya, Shaban Lwanga and Stephen ‘Tiger Woods’ Birungi.
Scratch player Birungi has won the open before (1997-1999). He was in buoyant mood after training on Monday.
“I respect my rivals but I still hope to get a fourth title,†he warned.
But the Ugandans will first have to beat on-form Rwandan ace, Emmanuel Ruterana, whose chance for glory might finally have come.
Ruterana upstaged a strong field of Ugandan golfers in the Independence Open in Kabale a fortnight ago.
He was expected to arrive in Kampala last evening for the Kitante course tournament that is jointly sponsored by Ericsson, Simba Telecom and MTN.
Scratch player Ruterana has had two top-10 finishes in the Uganda Open before.
“He is coming to win the big one now, he should be on his way,†a member of Kigali Golf Club said on phone.
The 72-hole stroke-play tournament limited to players below handicap 8, has all indications of an exciting showdown. The others will compete in the subsidiary and women categories.
r Top contenders for the prestigious Uganda Golf Open title at Kitante course might want to borrow Naru Thakkar’s magic 9 Iron club.
Using the 9 Iron, Thakkar fired a hole-in-one, his second in three months.
The elderly golfer pulled off the feat on hole 4 at the par-72 Kitante course on Saturday.
He was in the company of Thakkar P.A, Y. Sidpra and S. Kohli
Golf tradition is that when one scores a hole-in-one, they have to buy drinks for all the ‘lucky’ members present at the club house.
Uganda Open winners
since 1990
1990 D. Kagonyera
1991 S. Onito
1992 J. Jaffer
1993 J. Gavin
1994 S. Onito
1995 S. Onito
1996 S. Onito
1997 S. Birungi
1998 S. Birungi
1999 S. Birungi
2000 D. Akope
2001 D. Akope
2002 D. Akope
2003 C. Yokwe
2004 D. Odhiambo
2005 C. Yokwe