Same sparks expected as Uganda Open tees off

Three-time winner Ronald Otile is not available, defending champion Daniel Nduva is also away, but the sparks that always associated with the Uganda Open are expected when the Tusker Malt Lager sponsored tournament tees off on Thursday at Kitante.

In the recent history of the Uganda Open, no foreign golfers had dominated the tournament like the Kenyans did last year en-route to Nduva's maiden victory at the Lake Victoria Serena course.

The Kenyans had always played second fiddle, since 2007 when Nicholas Rokoine last won it at Kitante. But last year the Kenyans came with a lot of venom and completed a 1, 2, 3, finish with Nduva, 24, a member of the Nyali Golf Club and Kenya national team player, becoming the first player to win a major at Serena.

He also became the ninth Kenyan amateur golfer to win the Uganda open since 1932 and the second after Nicholas Rokoine's win 13 years ago.

The Great Rift Valley Golf Club's Simon Njogu finished second while another Kenyan Samuel Njoroge completed the route for the Ugandan field that had Joseph Cwinya-ai and Dennis Asaba as Uganda's best-placed players in fourth and fifth places respectively.

Kenya's Samuel Njoroge spiced up the event with a hole-in-one on the par 3 hole-4 in the amateur event with another Kenya national Edwin Mudanyi matching the feat in the professionals' event.

As this year's event starts all eyes are on Tooro Club's Joseph Cwinya-ai who is fresh from being crowned the Nile Special USPA Golfer of the Year 2019.

Cwinya-ai is now looking to build on the solid performance that saw him win four local championships and one regional trophy en-route to bagging the USPA gong, to win his first title.

He is also keen on avoiding the same mistakes that have seen him miss out on the most coveted trophy several times.

"I only need to ensure I return decent scores in the opening two rounds because whenever I have missed out it has been due to my poor opening, so I need to play well in the opening two rounds to stand a chance," Cwinya-ai said.

"Kitante is similar to our course in Fort Portal so I have prepared well and played one-under-par 71 when I arrived on Sunday so I'm ready to compete," Cwinya-ai said

Despite Nduva's absence, there is enough Kenya and Uganda's opposition to give Cwinya-ai a run for his money. From Kenya, the likes of Mutahi Kibugu, Adel Balala, Simon Njogu, and John Lejirma have crossed Cwinya-ai's path before and he knows the threat that they pose.

From Uganda fellow national team players Rodell Gaita, Godfrey Nsubuga, Denis Asaba, Grace Kaango, Ibrahim Bagalana, and Joseph Kasozi are all familiar with the Kitante course and should also provide enough competition as they all chess their first title.

"I'm aware of the threats but I have against most of them before and I know how to handle each one of them if I make it to the pressure group," Cwinya-ai stated. 

Previous ten winners

2010: Brian Mwesigwa (Kabale Golf Club)

2011: Rogers Byaruhanga (Uganda Golf Club)

2012: Phillip Kasozi (Uganda Golf Club)

2013: Peter Ssendaula (Entebbe Golf Club)

2014: Kitata (Entebbe Golf Club)

2015: Ronald Otile (Tooro Golf Club)

2016: Ronald Otile (Tooro Golf Club)

2017: Ronald Rugumayo (Tooro Golf Club)

2018: Ronald Otile (Tooro Golf Club)

2019: Daniel Nduva (Nyali Golf Club)