Kitatta wins Uganda Open

By Michael Nsubuga

WILLY Deus Kitatta won a double sudden death play-off against Adolf Muhumuza to win the Tusker Malt Uganda Open golf tournament at Kitante on Saturday.

The handicap +3 golfer who had finished as runner up for the past three years consequently bagged his first open title in a hotly contested final round that excited golf fans who turned up to watch the final day's action.

Muhumuza led for three days and carried a three stroke advantage going into the final day but his lead was cut by the hard fighting Kitatta who took advantage of Muhumuza’s lapses on holes 4, 8 and 9 to catch up.

By the 11th hole Kitatta had taken over with three strokes up and could even afford a jig as he putted for par with Muhumuza getting a bogey.

But he also surrendered his lead when he faltered on the 14, 15 and on the 17th hole where Muhumuza registered a birdie with Kitatta getting a par to send the game to a sudden death play-off, both players having registered pars on the 18th hole.

The first round of the play-off on holes 12, 17 and 18 ended all square with both players carding 7 gross, but Kitatta won the second sudden death play-off.

As tension mounted Muhumuza’s tee shot pitched on the fairway and into the Kitante Channel forcing him to drop for a stroke, while Kitatta’s remained on the fairway from where he easily chipped to the green and putted for par with Muhumuza registering a bogey.

Kitatta’s fans went into a frenzy lifting him high as they congratulated him upon his achievement.

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Willy Kitatta celebrates winning the Uganda Open with his caddie Swalleh Kibuuka at Kitante. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

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Minister of Finance Maria Kiwanuka (2nd right) hand over the Uganda Open winner’s trophy to Willy Kitatta at the Sheraton Hotel. Right is UBL chairman Alan Shonubi. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

“I feel happy and honoured to have won this trophy after having eluded me for the past three years. I just kept on playing my normal game and kept chasing as I’m good at it, when it go to the sudden death I decided to go for pars and it worked for me,” Kitatta said.

“I was just unlucky, It was his day and not that I played a bad game,” Muhumuza who got as much plaudits for his game as the winner said.

Unlike Muhumuza, Deo Akope held on his lead to win the professionals category bagging sh23m. Denis Anguyo (sh8m) another Ugandan who was in second place going into the final day collapsed and surrendered his place to Dismas Indiza who walked away with sh15m.

After the putts and pars were done with golfers headed to the Sheraton Hotel where they were treated to a 19 and 20th-hole experience by the sponsors before Afrigo band and other artistes entertained them until Sunday morning.

Minister Of Finance Maria Kiwanuka and UBL top brass led by their chairman Alan Shonubi presided over the prize ceremony.

The open was sponsored by Tusker Malt, Uganda Tourism Board, Sheraton Hotel, South African Airways, KK Security, Case Medical Centre, and Hertz.

Overall winner: Willy Kitata     75 73 70 73 292 gross

Runner up: Adolf Muhumuza    73 73 71 76 292

First Runner up: Phillip Kasozi           74 75 76 74 299

Second Runner up: Peter Ssendawula 77 75 78 75 304

Third Runner up: Robert Oluba           75 77 80 73 305

36 holes gross winner (Day 1 and 2): Happy Robert 152 gross

36 holes gross winner (Day 3 and 4): Gideon Kagyenzi 150 gross

Gross winner Day 1: Martin Ochaya 72 gross

Gross winner Day 2: Gerald Kabuye 75 gross

Gross winner Day 3: Becca Mwanja 74gross

Gross winner Day 4: Ronnie Bukenya 73 gross

Professionals Top 5

Deo Akope 281 gross

Dismas Indiza 284

Denis Anguyo 286 

David Odhiambo 288

C.J Wangai 288

Subsidiary Category Gross

Overall winner: Sam Onek 81c/b

Runner up: Noah Waibi 81

First Runner up: Joseph Kasozi 82

Second Runner up: Lucas Ferreira 83

Nett winners

Overall winner: Moses Alinda 71c/b

Runner up: Sam Thakkar 71

First Runner up: Benon Byoruganda 72c/b

Second Runner up: Elly Mukasa 72