Eva Magala races into Uganda Open lead

By Michael Nsubuga

Day-one top 10

Eva Magala 75 gross

Flavia Namakula 76

Irene Nakalembe 78

Gloria Mbaguta 79

Tina Nawa 80

Loyce Chingono 82

Sandra Kangana 83

Anne Abeja 84

Aggie Konde 85

Rose Azuba 86

EVA Magala capitalized on defending champion Flavia Namakula's poor start to take a one stroke lead as the Tusker Malt Lager Uganda Ladies Open teed off at Kitante on Thursday.

The handicap 6 golfer who is seeking for her first ladies title, scored two birdies en-route to an opening round of 75 to take the lead that she hopes to maintain if all goes well like on the first day.

"I want to thank God because my drives and putting was on today. I played with some pressure because I didn't want to lose again to Nawa like I did in Zambia, so I had to sort of pay back and remained steady; I was her runner up so I want her to be the runner up here," Magala said

If Magala is to stay top, she will not only have to improve her back-nine scores but will also have to depend on how the rest in the top five fair in the second round.

 Flavia Namakula made a poor start to her title defence. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

Irene Nakalembe is currently third on the leaderboard. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

Like yesterday if it wasn't for Namakula's poor start that had her scoring a triple bogey on the par 5, Hole-No. 1, Magala maybe would be in some other position

Pinnacle Security's third placed Nakalembe, also feels she can make amends in the second round while Zambia's Tina Nawa who is here for the second time had to use borrowed clubs because hers had been delayed on a flight.

The 18-year old is also hopeful of good scores in the subsequent rounds if she can be able to use her clubs today and in tomorrow's decisive round.

"I arrived today and just went straight on the course, I had a few hiccups but I could have played better, hopefully tomorrow I can return better scores with my clubs," Nawa who first played the Kitante course as a 15 year old, in 2012 said.

Pinnacle Security dressed up the ladies in yesterday's action. Other sponsors include Caesar Kingdom, Sheraton Kampala Hotel, HTC Hub, AAR, Roke Telecom, Etihad Airlines, Le P'tit Quebec, Africell and golfer John Katto.