Pro golfers battle for Uganda Open title

By Michael Nsubuga

UGANDA Professional golfers believe they are up to the challenge, and will partake on the sh100m prize money, as the Tusker Malt Lager Professionals’ Open tees off at Kitante today.

Uganda’s number one professional golfer Deo Akope is ready to win again on his home course despite having ‘missed practice’ on the course greens for over two weeks.

“I’m ready though I have not been able to practice on the course as regularly because of the various tournaments; the greens have changed much since we last played on them but I should be able to adjust during the Pro-Am,” Akope said after the official practice round on Monday.

Akope who pocketed sh23m, and other twenty Ugandan pros are up against a very competitive field of 48 foreign golfers from ten countries.

Kenya with 28 professionals has the biggest number of entries at this year’s open while South Africa has 7, Zimbabwe 3, Swaziland 2, Rwanda 2 and 1 entry each from Ghana, Nigeria and Zambia.

Despite the dry course Denis Anguyo who finished third last year, bagging sh8m is also raring to go for it again.

“I have been on the range working on my tee shots which cost me on the last day last year; the course is in good condition and since I have played on it in similar dry conditions, I’m ready to play it the way it is,” Anguyo said.

Willy Kitata, who won last year’s amateur event and is making his pro debut at this year’s event, feels he can win it again in his new capacity.

“The reason I came back was to defend my title though in a different capacity,” Kitata who is off for a training stint in the US said. 

“I’ve been working on all aspects of my game and I’m ready; I respect everyone but I will try to play to my best,”

Mbarara Open winner Fred Wanzala expects a tightly contested open while former amateur winner Brian Mwesigwa is happy about the dry course and has vowed to fight to ensure the biggest chunk of the money stays in Uganda.

“I’m hungry for the money, I have actually asked someone to look for a plot of land for me because I know I’m going to make it,” Mwesigwa stated.

Brian Toolit who missed last year’s cut by 2 strokes also feels better prepared this time around just like Herman Mutaawe, Godfrey Mande, Vincent Byamukama, the Entebbe twin brothers Silver Opio and Steven Odong among others.

Kenya’s Mathew Omondi who had a share of last year’s prize money (sh6m) is happy the course is in better shape than it was last year.