Golf pros eye sh16m prize
Dec 08, 2008
PROFESSIONAL golfers have a chance to take home a huge Christmas package at the sh10m MTN Mug of Mugs competition that starts at the par-72 Kitante course today.
By Douglas Mazune
Current overall standings
Mande 45,599 points
Akope 41733
Lagoro 19933
Birungi 17833
Fourth Quarter standings
Akope 7200
Anguyo 4500
Mande 3200
Mutaawe 2900
Ayella 2100
Toolit 1900
Lagoro 1733
Olayo 1133
Onyango 733
PROFESSIONAL golfers have a chance to take home a huge Christmas package at the sh10m MTN Mug of Mugs competition that starts at the par-72 Kitante course today.
The Mug of Mugs winner will take home sh1.6m and boost his chances of getting enough points to come top of the year’s standings and Quarterly Mug points, and bag an extra sh2m.
The 72-hole competition ends Friday and will also be used to judge the final Quarterly Mug positions for both the amateurs and professionals. The amateur golfers will do their own battle on Saturday.
Uganda Professional Golfers Association (UPGA) captain Deo Akope was excited ahead of tee off this morning. “It will be a deserved pay-day for a year’s hard work in time for Christmas,†Akope stated.
“There’s no better way to end the season. It will inspire people to work harder next year. Now that golfers have realised that monthly mugs are lucrative, they will be more serious next year.â€
Sixteen golfers including Kenyans Dismas Ndiza, David Waku, Simon Ngigi and David Odhiambo are in Kampala for the Mug of Mugs which will take centre-stage.
The Quarterly Mug will see the top eight Ugandans share sh3m.
Akope, Godfrey Mande and Dickson Lagoro are in firm contention for the overall bonus and Quarterly Mug top cash prizes.
* Michelle Wie claimed a berth on next year’s LPGA Tour despite a disappointing two-over par 74 final round for the teen prodigy at a qualifying tournament in Florida on Sunday.
The 19-year-old Korean-American, who only needed a top-20 finish to grab a coveted berth on the elite women’s golf series, finished in a share of seventh place on 12-under par 348 in the five-day, 90-hole showdown.
American Stacy Lewis won the title on 18-under 342 after a final-round 69 with South Korean Amy Yang second on 345.
With Swedish star Annika Sorenstam retiring, Wie could become the top drawing card for an LPGA circuit in need of stars despite the skills of world number one Lorena Ochoa of Mexico and a host of top international players.
Wie joins a tour that will play three fewer events in 2009 than 2008 with $5m less in prize money as the ongoing economic crisis cuts into sponsor support in all sports.
Current overall standings
Mande 45,599 points
Akope 41733
Lagoro 19933
Birungi 17833
Fourth Quarter standings
Akope 7200
Anguyo 4500
Mande 3200
Mutaawe 2900
Ayella 2100
Toolit 1900
Lagoro 1733
Olayo 1133
Onyango 733
PROFESSIONAL golfers have a chance to take home a huge Christmas package at the sh10m MTN Mug of Mugs competition that starts at the par-72 Kitante course today.
The Mug of Mugs winner will take home sh1.6m and boost his chances of getting enough points to come top of the year’s standings and Quarterly Mug points, and bag an extra sh2m.
The 72-hole competition ends Friday and will also be used to judge the final Quarterly Mug positions for both the amateurs and professionals. The amateur golfers will do their own battle on Saturday.
Uganda Professional Golfers Association (UPGA) captain Deo Akope was excited ahead of tee off this morning. “It will be a deserved pay-day for a year’s hard work in time for Christmas,†Akope stated.
“There’s no better way to end the season. It will inspire people to work harder next year. Now that golfers have realised that monthly mugs are lucrative, they will be more serious next year.â€
Sixteen golfers including Kenyans Dismas Ndiza, David Waku, Simon Ngigi and David Odhiambo are in Kampala for the Mug of Mugs which will take centre-stage.
The Quarterly Mug will see the top eight Ugandans share sh3m.
Akope, Godfrey Mande and Dickson Lagoro are in firm contention for the overall bonus and Quarterly Mug top cash prizes.
* Michelle Wie claimed a berth on next year’s LPGA Tour despite a disappointing two-over par 74 final round for the teen prodigy at a qualifying tournament in Florida on Sunday.
The 19-year-old Korean-American, who only needed a top-20 finish to grab a coveted berth on the elite women’s golf series, finished in a share of seventh place on 12-under par 348 in the five-day, 90-hole showdown.
American Stacy Lewis won the title on 18-under 342 after a final-round 69 with South Korean Amy Yang second on 345.
With Swedish star Annika Sorenstam retiring, Wie could become the top drawing card for an LPGA circuit in need of stars despite the skills of world number one Lorena Ochoa of Mexico and a host of top international players.
Wie joins a tour that will play three fewer events in 2009 than 2008 with $5m less in prize money as the ongoing economic crisis cuts into sponsor support in all sports.