The Bagumas hot on Otile's heels Uganda Open rages on

Daniel Baguma is only two strokes away in second place. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

Richard Baguma has the feeling of a champion and is now dreaming of winning the Tusker Malt Lager Uganda Open after taking a two-stroke lead after round two's action at the Uganda Golf Club on Thursday.

Baguma shot a second round one-over-par-73 to propel himself to the top ahead of Toro Club's Daniel Baguma, Dennis Asaba and day-one leader Ronald Otile who finds himself in fourth place after carding 7 over par 79 to relinquish top position.

It is too close to call as the battle between Toro Club golfers intensifies and any slip ups in today's round by the leaders will surely be punished by the chasing pack as only six strokes separates the first and tenth golfer on the leaderboard.

Richard Baguma has troubled Otile in the past. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

The UPDF golfer, Baguma who gave a hard time to the defending champion before losing by two strokes in the 2015 tournament, is living up to his pre-tournament hype when he said it was the year he was supposed to win it.

"As usual my game is all about chip and putt, so today I did that very well. I will keep to my strategy of going for pars, if a birdie comes along the way I will take it as a bonus," Baguma who got birdies on holes 1, 4 and 8 said.

"I have that feeling that I'm going to win this championship but I'll remain calm," Baguma stated.

But his namesake Daniel Baguma looks to be growing in confidence and is only two strokes away in second place ahead of fast rising national team player Dennis Asaba, who is a further stroke down; with defending champion Otile trailing by four strokes.

"My start wasn't that good but I managed to keep calm and managed the back nine well today because yesterday (Wednesday) I got two double bogeys there and everyone else seems to be dropping shots there, so I'm happy that I'm second going into the next round. I will be in the pressure group so I believe I just have to stay there and see what happens on the last day. I have given myself all the chances I need so I will try to play better in the next round," Baguma noted.

Despite an underwhelming day two performance, Otile is still top of the leaderboard. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

Defending champion Ronald Otile blamed his lacklustre outing on the second day on hard luck.

"All I can say is that I was unlucky. Today I missed all my iron shots to the right. Holes 12 and 15 gave me the most trouble where I got double and triple bogeys respectively. Since I'm chasing I will just ensure I play better than the people in my group because four strokes are not that much," Otile said.

Jinja Golf Club's Ismail Muhamood, Entebbe's Herman Mutebi and Kampala's Joseph Mawejje are closely following and tied five strokes away on 152 gross each just like Kenya's Andrew Chelongoi and Paul Muchangi and Rwanda's Alloys Nsabimana who are six strokes behind.

Chelongoti, Lugazi's Godfrey Nsubuga and Ethiopia's Tilaye Getaneh where the other outstanding players on the day with one over par 73 gross each.