Kasozi takes one-stroke lead as Uganda Golf Open starts

Kinyara Golf Club's Joseph Kasozi shot an opening level-par 72 to take an early lead as the Uganda Amateur's Open teed-off at the Kitante course on Tuesday.

Despite a poor start at the back-nine where he teed-off from, Kasozi, 27, who plays off handicap 2, and is no stranger to the Kitante course, scored five birdies on holes; 1, 5, 8, 11, and 15 that ensured he led the field that has attracted 103 golfers.

"I'm not surprised because this is how I have been playing of late. But it wasn't an easy 72 because I started at the back-nine and quickly started with a ‘hard bogie' and two others on holes 6 and 12," Kasozi, who made the cut to the national team early this year for the first time said.

"But I recovered well on the front-nine and I will try to maintain that because this is how I play my golf; I don't focus on my opponents," Kasozi stated.

USPA golfer of the year 2019 and captain of the national team, Joseph Cwinya-ai, who is one of the top contenders for the coveted title started with a one-over 73 to tie in second place with another national team player Rodell Gaita.

"My target was to play level but I was three-over the first four holes and that unsettled me a bit. Starting from the back-nine also tried to disturb me physiologically because when you are attacking your opponents you have to attack them from the front," Cwinya-ai said.

 "But it is good that I was able to recover and I'm happy with my day-one scores because I'm still among the top five.

"Most of the opens I have lost have been due to my poor starts in the first two rounds, so I'm happy with what I have returned and hope to improve in the second round. I will target playing one or two under tomorrow and at worst I should still play level," Cwinya-ai said.

Cwinya-ai (HC+2) completed his first round with four birdies, 1 bogey, and two double bogies on holes 7 and 13 and remains one of the strongest contenders.

The highly contested championship has six Ugandan players and one Kenyan John Lerjima tied in third place having returned three-over 75 each.

Another Kenyan Adel Balala is also tied in fourth with Tooro Club's Michael Alunga having returned 76 gross while Godfrey Bwambale, Godfrey Nsubuga, Nixon Ambovi, and Clovis Kasangaki-all Ugandans returned 77 in the first round.

Round-One: Top ten

Joseph Kasozi 72

Joseph Cwinya-ai 73

Rodell Gaita 73

Canary Kabise 75

Grace Kasango 75

Samuel Kato 75

Chris Baguma 75

Dennis Asaba 75

Aaron Mugomola 75

John Lerjima 75

Michael Alunga 76