Bagalana longs for more after winning Eskom Golf Tournament

After winning the Eskom golf tournament at Jinja Club over the weekend, Ashiraf Bagalana is fired up to claim even more glory at different tournaments this year.

The handicap-five golfer beat over thirty gross players from across the country to the top prize of a sh20m sponsorship for one year and a brand new year Callaway golf kit from the sponsors of the annual event; to claim his second major win since 2014.

Top on the list for the twenty-year old Uganda Golf Club member is this year's Uganda Open due in August.

"I actually didn't play very well but the guys I played with were worse. I want to win 7 majors this year including the Uganda Open. I also want to play for the national team," Bagalana who won with 148 gross over 36 holes said.

"Failures have to inspire you, I have been a Piga Mingi (came last) in many tournaments but I'm now the champion. My previous failures before have inspired me to win," Bagalana stated.

 South African High Commissioner Solly Lekoa (left) and Eskom MD Thozama Gangi present prizes to Ashiraf Bagalana

He takes over the Eskom glory from his elder brother Abbey Bagalana who won last year's event and has since turned professional. Abbey played in the professionals' category and made his first cut as a professional and partook on the sh8m prize money. Taufic Bagalana completed the family affair when he won the Group B.

Entebbe Golf Club's Herman ‘Deco' Mutebi was runner up with 153 gross while Samuel Kato (156 gross), Joseph Basalaine (158gross) and Joseph Mawejje (162) were third, fourth and fifth respectively.

In the subsidiary event Mehta Golf Club's Rogers Eyoyo was the best in Group A after returning 69nett while Jinja Club's Joseph Ngobi and Taufic Bagalana took the Group B and C accolades with 64 and 65 nett respectively.

Catherine Buttner and Lilian Kikira were the top lady performers in Groups A and B that had Gloria Mbaguta and Betty Alikyogera as well as Alice Mamikembo and Regina Namata as first and second runners up respectively in both groups.