Golf: Regional golfers ready for Uganda Open tourney

Greg Snow makes a swing.[Maarufu Mohamed,Standard]

Kenyan golfers (amateurs and professionals) have sharpened their golf sticks ready for the 2019 Uganda Open golf Championships.

This year's event will take place at the magnificent par-72 Lake Victoria Serena Golf Spa and Resort course in Kampala, Uganda.

The event, which will feature Juniors, Ladies, Amateurs and Professional, has attracted an estimated field of 700 golfers from East Africa as well as golfers from the USA.

According to the programme, the tournament began last Monday, with the juniors, where Uganda's 16-year-old Rogers Eyoyo won the boys' title on 72 nett, while Winnie Massete, on 93 net, was the girls' winner.

The Ladies had their moment of glory from last Wednesday to Saturday. Home club’s Martha Babirye, on a round total of 149 gross, emerged victorious.

The Kenyan amateurs, who are being led by Samuel Njoroge of Kenya Railways Club, begin action today to Saturday.

There will be a Pro Am tournament next Tuesday, before Dismas Indiza, from Mumias Club, who is also the defending champions, leads the Kenyan team of 24 professionals to the event.

All eyes will be on the pros as they do their thing from Wednesday to  Saturday 14.

“I hope to retain the title since I have prepared well and I am ready for the event," said Indiza.

Kenyan professionals, among the 30-man entry, include Professional Golfers of Kenya (PGK) captain C. J. Wangai, Golf Park’s Jacob Okello, 2018 Safari Tour  champion Greg Snow from Muthaiga, Windor’s  Riz Charania, Limuru’s John Kagiri and Thika’s Simon Ngige.

Others are Muthaiga’s Nelson Mudanyi and Nyanza’a David Odhiambo.

Professionals from Uganda, Ethiopia, Botswana, France, Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, Kenya, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe will battle for a share of the Sh184 million (US 50000 Dollars) prize kitty.

The Professional event will also combine with the second leg of the ongoing Safari Tour.