Pros' challenge added to Entebbe Ladies Open

A new twist has been added to this year's Castle Lite Entebbe Ladies Open with the introduction of the first ever Pro Challenge to be competed for by the 12 new UPGA professionals.

The challenge has been added to the main two-day event as part of the Women's Day celebrations on March 8, in special recognition of the only lady professional in Uganda, Flavia Namakula according to Entebbe Club Lady captain, Rita Apell.

Namakula will fight it out with the new professionals for sh3m, with the top 6 sharing out the cash.

"The Pro Challenge is just an addition—a one-day tournament as we celebrate Women's Day in March," Apell said.

Some of the professionals expected to feature in the challenge include Davis Kato, Martin Ochaya, Emma Ogwang, Abraham Ainamani, Ismail Muhamood, Adolf Muhumuza, David Kamulindwa, Becca Mwanja and Herman ‘Deco' Mutebi who will all be looking for their first pay cheque in the paid ranks.

Irene Nakalembe who has won to tournament four times in a row will be looking to add a fifth championship but she will likely face some stiff competition.

After last year's championship where she edged Tanzania's Iddi Madina by a stroke, Nakalembe vowed to hold on to this championship having missed out on the Uganda Ladies Open on many occasions.

"I have been battered away from home but here I'm going to hang on to this; because this is the course I have always returned the best gross scores," Nakalembe said.

Eva Magala who was seven strokes off last year and is currently in the best form of her career is the immediate threat to Nakalembe's ambitions alongside Martha Babirye, Peace Kabasweka, Rose Azuba, Lucia Alinda and Tanzania's Vicky Erias who all finished in the top ten last year.

Madina will not make it this year due to a family emergency according to Apell.