Kasaija confident of his charges as Junior World Cup starts

Past winners (Boys category)

2014: Norway

2015: Japan

2016: USA

2017: USA

2018: Denmark

National junior golf team coach Stephen Kasaija's expectations are high as his boys compete in the 27th edition of the 2019 Toyota Junior Golf World Cup, starting Tuesday at the Chukyo Golf Club Ishino Course, Nagoya.

Having camped for over a month in Uganda ahead of the championship, Joel Basalaine, Michael Alunga, Ibrahim Aliga, and Dennis Asaba must now put their heads down to produce decent results in the tournament that has attracted the crème de la crème from 15 countries.

"They are fit enough, well exposed and I expect them to benefit even more from this tournament. They should play better than they did during the qualifier in Botswana," Kasaija said.

Team captain Basalaine is also hoping of a decent outing for the team despite being their maiden outing against such a strong field.

 The national Junior Golf team after training at Serena Golf Resort ahead of the 2019 Toyota Junior World Cup in Japan, June 7, 2019. L-R: Dennis Asaba, Joel Basalaine, Michael Alunga, Ibrahim Aliga. PHOTO: Michael Nsubuga

"We have prepared well, on the range and on the course and we received more tactics and skills this time,"Basalaine said.

"The team is committed to playing good golf and we are all prepared to return good scores. We are all mentally strong and the training we have had is enough to enable us to play well," Basalaine noted before they set foot in Japan.

But it seems not all is going to be smooth sailing for the Ugandans if their scores from the practice round on Monday is anything to go by.

Apart from Asaba who returned a five-over-par 77, the rest of the team members struggled with the fast greens with Basalaine (82 gross), Alunga (85) and Aliga (93); ten, thirteen and twenty-one strokes away from par.

In Tuesday's first-round draw, the Uganda Tourism Board sponsored team will play alongside Argentine and Australia opponents.

Alunga has been drawn with Argentina's Abel Gallegos Caputo and Australia's Elvis Smylie while Aliga is playing with Gulliermo Estivill and Jye Pickin from Argentina and Australia respectively.

Asaba and Basalaine will negotiate the 6,843 yards alongside Vincente Marzilio and Hayden Hopewell and Federico Shin and Joshua Greer respectively.

The tournament encourages each team member to play with a patriotic spirit during the competition while providing them with the opportunity to develop international friendship during the event.