Tanzania lifts East and Central All Africa golf challenge
Oct 27, 2019
Apart from Nakalembe’s closing round four-over 74, the rest of Uganda’s scores in the opening rounds were not anywhere near threatening or stopping a determined Tanzanian side.
Uganda failed to utilise home advantage to win their first East and Central All Africa Challenge Trophy (ECAACT) tournament, as the 5th edition of the event, ended at Entebbe Club on Saturday.
Ugandan players Irene Nakalembe, Martha Babirye, Peace Kabasweka, and Gloria Mbaguta failed to find their rhythm over the three days of action handing Tanzania the opportunity to grab their third.
Apart from Nakalembe's closing round four-over 74, the rest of Uganda's scores in the opening rounds were not anywhere near threatening or stopping a determined Tanzanian side led by experienced Iddi Madina.
Madina returned 220 gross over the 54 holes and wrapped up her individual effort with a level-par 71 not only to win the best individual trophy but also lift her side to add to their 2009 and 2011 victories.
UTB Marketing Officer Daniel Irunga (2nd right) poses with the Ugandan team that finished second after the East and Central All Africa Challenge Trophy tournament at Entebbe Club
"We have been praying to God every day that we win this tournament and we have been planning every evening on how to win and strategized and advised each other," Madina said.
"It feels nice to win it; we have accomplished our mission and looking forward to many more,"
Tanzania Ladies Golf Union president Sophia Viggo also weighed in with her own comment saying:
"We are a strong team on the continent and we came well prepared to win this tournament. We only wish other countries were here but we always try to do our best wherever we go," Viggo said.
Nakalembe blamed inexperience as the major factor for Uganda's failure saying: "We failed to win because of inexperience but we gave it our all and since the girls have been exposed to the pressure under the Ugandan flag, I hope next time we shall do better," Nakalembe said.
UTB Marketing Officer Daniel Irunga (right) presents the best individual trophy to Tanzania's Iddi Madina after the East and Central All Africa Challenge Trophy tournament
"We sort of had a little time in training and there are lessons learned and we have seen where we had weaknesses, we are going to work on it because we have another big tournament in Namibia early next year, so we know where to touch,"
The only consolation for Uganda was the election of Eva Magala as the East& Central African Region Trustee, replacing Zambia's Moona Mwila who also attended the Entebbe event.
The ECAACT tournament is played by the countries in the East& Central African Region as a pre-cursor to the All Africa Challenge Trophy (AACT). These countries are Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Burundi, Reunion, Zambia, and Malawi. The tournament rotates around these countries and is played every 2 years on the year after the AACT.
Outgoing E&CARC Trustee Moona Mwila (right) presents the winners' trophy to Tanzania ladies golf team captain Hawa Wanyeche
Tanzania and Zambia with three and two wins respectively have dominated this event over the last eight years.
Final leader board
Tanzania: 695
Iddi Madina 76;73;71 220
Angel Eaton 80;86;74 240
Hawa Wanyeche 79;88;75 242
Neema Olomi 82;81;82 245
Uganda: 721
Irene Nakalembe 81;78;75 234
Martha Babirye 80;79;79 238
Peace Kabasweka 83;85;81249
Gloria Mbaguta 85;88;81 254
Kenya: 748
Agnes Nyakio 78;79;88 215
Mercy Nyachama 87;75;83 245
Margaret Njoki 88;86;84 258