The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
1⃣ D Nduva 🇰🇪 ✳ 286 📷
2⃣ S Njogu 🇰🇪 ✳ 287
3⃣ S Njoroge 🇰🇪 ✳ 288
4⃣ J Cwinyaai 🇺🇬 ✳ 293
5⃣ D Asaba 🇺🇬 ✳ 295
6⃣ R Otile 🇺🇬 ✳ 295
💠Venue: Lake Victoria Serena
Kigo, Uganda | LOUIS JADWONG | Kenyan Daniel Nduva is the new Uganda Amateur Golf Open champion.
The 23-year old Nyali Golf Club player carded a 72-hole score of 286, to secure a one-stroke come-from-behind victory. He carded 75, 70, 71, 70 in the four rounds.
Nduva becomes the first Kenyan to take Uganda’s most prestigious title since 2007, when fellow countryman Nicholas Rokoine from Muthaiga Golf Club won.
“We came here to win, and I am happy it turned out as we planned. I dedicate this victory to my mum, who did everything to make me who I am, and helped me start playing the game of golf,” Nduva said.
Simon Njogu, who had led all of the three opening rounds, failed to secure a play-off opportunity, when he missed a birdie on the final hole.
The top three places were taken by the Kenyans, with Samuel Njoroge setting the early pressure in the final round with a hole-in-one on hole 4.
Defending champion Ronald Otile conceded defeat. ” It did not work the way I had planned on the final day. I had wanted to play one or two under in the first 9 holes, but my tee shots did not work out. The 8 strokes on hole 13 killed it all.”
“I will not come back next year. I will leave the championship contest for the much younger Ugandan lads,” he said.
Otile had put up a phenomenal come-back after a disastrous 82 strokes on day one, to make the pressure group on the final day on Saturday.
The 24-year-old carded an astonishing 66 – six under par on Friday, courtesy of a eagle, six birdies and 9 pars.
Otile rewrote the record he had set just a day earlier with a four under par 68 strokes as he chased a pack of Kenyans, who dominated the 78th Uganda Amateur Golf Open from day one.
Uganda’s best player was Joseph Cwinyaai, seven strokes behind at 293, followed by Denis Asaba who carded at 295.
The four-day 72 hole Amateur Open is Ugandan golf’s most prestigious title. It is held a few days after the Ladies Open that was won by Uganda’s Martha Babirye, and a week before the professional Open.
There will be a Pro Am tournament on Tuesday, before Dismas Indiza, from Mumias Club Kenya takes to the course to defend his Professional Open title.
He leads a Kenyan team of 24 professionals to the event.
LIVE UPDATE 1: Early results
💠 Pressure group
✳ S Njoroge 🇰🇪
✳ S Njogu 🇰🇪
✳ R Otile 🇺🇬
Pius Omara carded 77 strokes on the final day of the Uganda Amateur Golf Open to set the pace among the early finishers.
The Lake Victoria Serena golfer concluded his day with a 72 holes score of 321, 33 over par. He was five better than Tooro Golf Club’s Solomon Enyoru and Emma Moko of Namulonge Club with 326 and lying second at 1.30pm.
The pressure group has just teed off, with Kenya Railway Golf Club veteran Samuel Chege Njoroge looking to break an 11-year jinx for foreign entrants at the Uganda Amateur Golf Open.
Ugandans have won the last 11 Opens, with Njoroge’s fellow countryman Nicholas Rokoine from Muthaiga Golf Club the last foreign entrant to win the title in 2007.
Overnight leader Njoroge said he is well placed to win. ” This is a new course… everyone is new to it so whoever swings well, and whoever will have luck will win. I made some mistakes on Friday and if I try to avoid the mistakes, I believe I can win it,” he said.
The Kenyan will however have to contend with favourite Otile, who has stormed from being 13 behind the day one leader Njogu, to playing in the pressure group.
After a disastrous start, that saw him card 82 strokes on Wednesday, he remained optimistic, and warned that, “It is a game. I played +10 today, but I can still play -10 tomorrow.”
The 24-year old has come close to doing that already, hitting a course record 4 under 68 on Thursday, then breaking the record Friday with a stunning 6 under par 66 that had an eagle, six birdies and nine par scores in the 18 holes – completely demystifying the water hazards that dominate the course.
What will not be good news for his opponents is the fact that after his six-under par score, Otile still feels there is room for improvement. “I need to play the course as it is and on regulations. I’ll also need to commit on putting tomorrow,” he said, when asked about his thoughts ahead of D-day.
Last year, he came from 5 strokes behind in the very last 6 holes to win. A thrilling final day awaits golf fans at the 78th Uganda Amateur Golf Open.
