Uganda Open: Akope, Kasozi raring to go

Ugandan golfers Phillip Kasozi and Deo Akope got the perfect tonic needed ahead of the Tusker Malt Lager Professionals' Open when they returned impressive scores in a sh6m warm up round at Kitante on Friday.

Kasozi returned three under-par 69 with Akope carding two under to share the biggest chunk of the cash that was contributed by well-wishers, for the Ugandan professionals, ahead of the open that tees off tomorrow with the Pro-Am tournament.

The likes of Fred Wanzala and Herman Mutaawe, who were one-over-par-73, will be looking to improve their scores.

Saidi Mawa, George Olayo, Dennis Anguyo, Gerald Kabuye, Sadi Atibu, Happy Robert and Brian Toolit who produced two, four, five and six over respectively, need no reminders that such scores in the main event might be the difference between finishing off with nothing from the sh145m prize money that will be shared out among the top 30 golfers and ties.

An increase in the prize money (from sh110m last year) has created more interest in the competition and over 55 foreign entries are expected to challenge the locals for the cash. We are talking of a field of over 80 professionals whose eyes and mind is all on the money.

As has been the case in previous competitions, the Kenyan golfers with 37 entries dominate the entry list with the rest coming from Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Namibia, Zambia and one entry from Portugal so far.

Stephen Ferreira from Portugal, Joe Nawanga, Neil Laurence Swart and Jeffery Roux from Namibia will make their debuts alongside the usual suspects from Kenya that include four time winner Dismas Indiza, Kopan Timbe, Stefan Andersen, Simon Ngige, David Odhiambo, C.J Wangai, who all made the top ten last year alongside Uganda's Saidi Mawa, Denis Anguyo and Phillip Kasozi.