Ferreira eyes Kitante course record
Oct 02, 2017
It was his six-under-par 66 in the third round that in the end won him the event
Portuguese golfer Stephen Ferreira's third round six-under-par 66 made the difference as he romped to his first Tusker Malt Lager Uganda Open title at Kitante on Saturday.
The 25 year old, Zimbabwe- based star, hit two birdies on holes 5 and 8 en route to a level par 72 on the final day to beat his closest challenger, Kenya's Dismas Indiza by three strokes, and an overall 7 strokes under par, to bag a sh28m cheque.
But it was his six-under-par 66 in the third round that in the end won him the event after a final round display from Indiza threatened his lead.
Indiza hit four birdies to end the round with a three-under-par 69, the best score of the round but it was short of dislodging the champion.
"It has been a good week, today was a bit tough but I got the job done which is the most important," Ferreira said.
Stephen Ferreira tees off from the 15th tee during the final round. Photo by Michael Nsubuga 
UPGA chairman Samuel Ssejaaka (L), UGU president Johnson Omolo, ULGU president Maxi Byenkya and UBL MD Mark Ocitti (R) hand Ferreira a dummy cheque. Photo by Michael Nsubuga
"It is good to get this confidence building win ahead of several tournaments in South Africa, and thanks to Uganda for the stunning golf course hopefully I will be back to defend the title.
"Dismas had a good start and put up a great challenge today but I ignored that and kept to my rhythm and game plan which paid off in the end.
"I have been in these positions a few times now and it is beginning to pay off, as I now know how to handle trouble when it comes my way."
He now hopes to return next year to defend the championship with an even better score.
"If I come back next year, hopefully I can go lower and may be equal the course record like I did early this year in Zambia," Ferreira added.
Course record
"If I can match the course record and win, it will be awesome."
Uganda's best performance came from surprise package of the tournament Brian Mwesigwa who finished third with a level par 288 over the four rounds.
Kenya's Dismas Indiza tees off during the final round of the professionals open at Kitante. Photo by Michael Nsubuga 
Brian Mwesigwa is congratulated by fans after the final round. Photo by Michael Nsubuga
Mwesigwa who used vintage golf clubs (Macgregor brand) and his bag lacked two more, surprised even his long hitting opponents with the kind of game he displayed.
Four birdies on holes, 4, 5, 13 and 15 had him finishing with one-over-par 73, to finish level overall (288 gross) over the four rounds.
"I could have used old clubs but I understand the game very well, so I wasn't bothered by their long drives as I always stayed on the fairway," Mwesigwa who won the championship as an amateur in 2010 said.
"If I had the kind of equipment they had, maybe I would have performed even better."
He got sh12m for his efforts and now joins Deo Akope and Vincent Byamukama as the only Ugandans to have won the event as amateurs and professionals.
Kenya's Samuel Njoroge, the only one of the eight amateurs who made the cut, finished in joint 22nd position with Ugandan professionals including Peter Sendaula.