Things heating up at Uganda Open as Alunga leads

Dec 03, 2020

The national junior team player hit six birdies on holes; 1, 2, 4, 10, 11, and 13

It is beginning to boil up at the Tusker Malt Lager Uganda Open after almost half of the players in the top ten improved their scores, as the second round raged on at Kitante on Wednesday.

But it was Uganda Golf Club's Michael Alunga who made great strides in the round after producing a two-under-par 70, the best of the day,  that propelled him on top of the leaderboard with a one-stroke lead going into the third round today.

The national junior team player hit six birdies on holes; 1, 2, 4, 10, 11, and 13 and despite bogies on holes 8, and 18 and a double bogie on hole no. 7 finds himself on top with 36 holes left to play.

"I have been struggling before but my game has now improved. I will continue with my normal game and I will not be under any pressure to play with the big boys because I have always played with them," Alunga said.

"This is my first time in the Uganda Open pressure group but I have tested it before in the Kinyara, Entebbe and Serena Opens so I'm not worried.

"I'm just going to play the course like I have today, not focusing on anyone, my plan is to play level in the 3rd round and I think I can win it; why not," Alunga, a Tooro Club bred golfer confidently said.

Dennis Asaba from Tooro Club, Entebbe Club's Christopher Baguma and Kenya's John Lerjima all improved their round-one scores by three strokes each and are now tied in second place on 147 gross after the two rounds.

Asaba is one stroke off after what he described as a frastrating round. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

Despite hitting an eagle on the par-5 hole No.13 and four birdies on holes 1, 2, 5, and 15, Asaba feels he should have played better.

"I'm among the leaders but I'm not happy with my game because I messed it up in the end. I was five-under and I had 7 holes to play but I think luck was not on my side.

"I have struggled a lot with the par-5's because I have so far dropped 8 strokes on them over the last two days and I think I'm just going to play safe going forward," Asaba noted.

Joseph Cwinya-ai who finished in second after round one dropped another two strokes to slip to third.

"It was quiet a disappointing round because I failed to meet my target of at least playing level. I'm two strokes off but there are two rounds to go so there is still room to correct my mistakes," Cwinya-ai said.

"My decision making was poor today because I was 4-under after 8 holes but played six-over at the back-nine, it's very disappointing for a +2 handicapper like me.

"But I'm playing against familiar foes so I will take them on since I have overcome my previous bad starts. I have played against experience players and I'm going to use that experience to show them what I'm made of," Cwinya-ai vowed.

Day-one leader Joseph Kasozi slipped to fourth position having dropped six strokes in the second round.

"The last five holes were problematic. I failed to putt well but I still have another two rounds to rectify my mistakes,' Kasozi said.

The sh100m professionals' event that has attracted over 80 golfers also tees off today.

Round 2

Michael Alunga (UG) 76 70 146

Dennis Asaba (UG) 75 72 147

Christopher Baguma (UG) 75 72 147

John Lerjima (KE) 75 72 147

Joseph Cwinya-ai (UG) 73 75 148

Rodell Gaita (UG) 73 75 148

Joseph Kasozi (UG) 72 78 150

Grace Kasango (UG) 75 76 151

Adel Balala (KE) 76 76 152

Marvin Kibirige (UG) 80 72 152

Mwangi Kimui (KE) 78 74 152

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});