Babirye edge Nakalembe to claim maiden Ladies Open Title

 

 

 

Plying off handicap 4, Babirye weathered the storm and held her nerve to edge Entebbe Club's Irene Nakalembe to the title by one stroke on the final of the tournament played under difficult weather conditions.

 

From the scotching sunshine in the morning to windy conditions in the afternoon, before a long drizzle that lasted five hours, the lady golfers in the ‘pressure group' braved all conditions as they displayed fantastic golf over six and a half hours.

 

Babirye, fresh from winning the UGC ladies open last week, led by six strokes after the first round but her lead was reduced to one stroke by Nakalembe going into the last round. But despite Nakalembe's perfect chase in the final round, and a two stroke lead at some point, she lost a crucial stroke on the 15th holes that turned out to be the game changer.

 

"I can't believe I have won! It is like a dream. I thought it would be easy but Nakalembe fought well and could have won because I had given it away. But we all didn't play to our best and the one stroke that I saved yesterday (Friday) is the one that saved me," Babirye noted.

 

"My game wasn't very good today and that is one of my worst scores; the clubs became slippery following the rain but I didn't give up until the last hole," Babirye said.

 

Babirye's win means Nakalembe will have to again try winning the one title that has eluded her next year.

 

"The last day has been really very tough. When it started raining things became so different, but I congratulate Martha; the one who plays better wins. She fought well, put her head down and for me, I will keep trying," Nakalembe said.

 

"After the rain, I could not strike those balls very well but the winner takes it all. I won't give up; I will keep trying until I win it,"

 

On another day the Ugandans could easily have handed the victory to Tanzania's Angel Eaton who despite also struggling came within three strokes of grabbing it. She played better than the Ugandans on the final day and was only undone by a couple of bogeys and double bogeys especially on holes 13 and 15.

 

On the 19th hole, the tournament was graced by several dignitaries led by the Minister of Works and Transport Monica Ntege and sponsors' representatives.

 

A fashion show as per the night's theme of African Wear spiced up the evening as golfers tried to outdo each other on stage. Kenya won the competition.

 

The tournament is co-sponsored by Liquid Telecom, Britam, Time Cop, Minet, Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), Pepsi, NTV, Isuzu and Lake Victoria Serena.