Philip Kasozi, cupped four days of action at the par 72 Kitante Golf Course to claim the 70th Tusker Malt Uganda Amateur Open Golf Championship at the Uganda Golf Club on Saturday.
The plus one player who was four strokes off the pace on Day three of action clawed back with a perfect gross score of 70 to end with a total of 289 and win by a three stroke margin to claim the most prestigious golf tournament on the Uganda Golf Union calendar.
On his road to victory he sunk birdies on hole 1, 4, 5, 8, and 13 in a closely contested battle that had Willy Kitata the previous lead surrender his lead and collapse for a second year running.
“It feels great to be the Open champion and I just played my game and never really put myself under so much pressure,” Kasozi said. “I hope to be back to defend this title next year am not turning professional even after winning this grand prize.”
Entebbe’s Willy Kitata, who led after three day’s of action going into the decisive day collapsed with a score of 288 after returning to the club house with a gross score of 77. “It’s heart breaking to come to this point and lose on the final day it happened last year and I have to work harder next year,” a crestfallen Kitata said. “My problems started after hole 3 after my rescue broke after that incident I lost all my focus.”
Gideon Kagyenzi, 2009 winner Peter Senduala and Adolf Muhumuza finished third,fourth and fifth. Kenya’s Dismus Ndiza swept the professionals four day series with an astonising score of 270 gross winning and beating 31 professionals by eight strokes.
70th Tusker Malt Uganda Amateur Open Golf Championships
Rd1 Rd 2 Rd3 Rd4
P.Kasozi 70 71 74 70 285 gross
W. Kitata 75 67 69 77 288
G. Kagyenzi 74 72 75 74 295
P. Senduala 78 72 74 75 299
A. Muhumuza 71 71 76 78 296
Nett winner
B.Michael 283
Subsidiary
Winner R.Segirinya 133 nett
Gross winner R.Mwami 158
Professionals
D.Ndiza 270 gross