Akope up against odds in Mombasa

Aug 10, 2010

DISRUPTIVE wind from the Indian Ocean and the presence of South African golf ace James Kamte pose a genuine threat to Ugandan Deo ‘Yellow Boy’ Akope’s quest for the Ush14m top prize in the KCB Classic that tees in Mombasa, Kenya today.

By Douglas Mazune

UGU stroke play leader board after Onito memorial

B. Mwesigwa 23 points
S. Kasaija 23
I. Odokonyero 22.5
S. Mawa 20.5
S. Odong 19.5
E. Opio 17
F. Wanzala 15.5
R. King 7
O. Ocici 7


DISRUPTIVE wind from the Indian Ocean and the presence of South African golf ace James Kamte pose a genuine threat to Ugandan Deo ‘Yellow Boy’ Akope’s quest for the Ush14m top prize in the KCB Classic that tees in Mombasa, Kenya today.

Akope, who won the Tanzania leg of the KCB East Africa Golf Tour series, is one of the major contenders in the Ksh3m (Ush56m) tournament that has attracted 50 professionals from Uganda, hosts Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and South Africa.

“Because it had rained there was no strong wind on the course yesterday, I hope it won’t be strong when it blows across the course. This course is unpredictable,” said Akope.

“I respect all the competitors but Kamte stands out. He is very competitive.”
Akope equalled the course record in the same event last year when he matched Kenyan Wachira Muhihu’s best score set in 1994.

Akope, who led on the first day but slipped in the subsequent rounds to finish sixth, intends to take a cautious approach.

“In the series I was quite consistent. I don’t want to blow it up in one round. I will aim to be close to the leader but if I open up a big lead I will try to stay atop,” Akope remarked after a training session at the Nyali course yesterday.

Kenyans Simon Ngigi and Dismas Indiza, who won in Kigali and Kampala respectively, will be out to win at home as well.

Ugandans Denis Anguyo, Herman Mutaawe and Brian Toolit arrived yesterday in time for a practice round.
Only 25 of the 50 competitors will make the cut as half the field will return home empty-handed midway the four-day tournament.

MEANWHILE Stephen Kasaija and national champion Brian Mwesigwa are the two frontrunners for this year’s national championship title after the Onito Memorial Open last weekend, adds Phillip Corry.

Kasaija, a former national champion, moves to joint top after finishing fifth at the Onito show in Jinja.

The former professional and Mwesigwa who won the top award for the first time last year are level at 23 points in the Uganda Golf Union championship leader board.

Said Mawa won the Jinja event held in memory of Uganda’s greatest golfer Onito.

Onito won the Uganda Open a record 12 times, took a number of other domestic and international awards in dazzling fashion. His son Charles Yokwe was also remembered at the Jinja tournament.

Yokwe who was in the pioneer group of professional players, also made a mark previously as an amateur.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});