Pro Am : 2014 Uganda Golf Open
Best Overall Score:
Charles Tongoona Charamba (Zimbabwe) – 69
Zimbabwe’s top professional golfer, Charles Tongoona Charamba drew the first blood, winning the Pro Am event of the 2014 Uganda Open at Uganda Golf Club on Tuesday.
Charamba shot a course 2 under par score of 69 beating off stiff competition from Deo Akope (71 gross), Kenya’s Simon Ngige (73 gross) and Kenya’s Dismus Ndiza (with a 1 over par score of 72).
“Actually, it was like a practice round. The greens and course are excellent and I expect a great tournament”, Charamba, one of the players who have played in Sunshine Tour told Kawowo Sports.
This was the first time the Pro Am event was being held in the history of the Uganda Open.
Top Teams:
Guiness 5 tallied 231 points to topple the rest with the team’s winning professional, Simon Ngige (73 gross) bagging U.shs 1M.
K.K security team took the runners up slot with 223 points. The team’s winning pro, Opio Onito, son to the legendary Uganda Golf Open record winner, Sadi Onito, bagged U.shs 700,000.
The third best team was Case Medical center (227 points), and the team pro was Vincent Byamukama.
“I lost two balls but i managed to score a 3 over score. Hopefully, it does not rain in the coming days”, Byamukama, the defending champion of the professional catergory remarked.
Kenya’s left handed golf pro, Richard Ainley, bagged U.shs 300,000 with team Sheraton A (228 points), who finished 4th overall.
The 4 day Uganda golf open officially started on Monday with the official practice round before the Pro Am the following day.
The main event swung into action on Wednesday morning with a field of about 100 golfers taking part.
Later in the week, the subsidiary category of the tournament will tee off where another crop of about 200 golfers are expected to take part.
The professionals will battle for a share of $ 40,000 (U.shs 102M) in the 200M tournament sponsored by Tusker Malt larger, Sheraton Kampala Hotel, Case Medical Care, K.K security and a cross section of other sponsors.
“It gives me honour to grace such an event where the Africa’s cream de la cream of golfers are taking part. I wish you a successful Uganda open event”, Frank Tumwebaze, who was chief guest at the cocktail and prize giving held at Sheraton hotel remarked.
The Uganda Golf Open is the biggest event on the Uganda Golf Union (UGU) Calendar.
Entebbe based golfers, Peter Ssendaula and Vincent Byamukama are the defending champions in the amateur and professional categories respectively.
2014 Uganda Open Pro Am Results:
Best Overall Score: Charles Tongoona Charamba (69 Gross)
Nearest to the Pin: Elly Mukasa (Coca Cola)
Longest Drive: Gloria Mbaguta
Teams:
1 – Guiness 5 : 231 Points
Pro: Simon Ngige – 73 Gross
Amateurs: Phillip Kasozi (75 Nett) and Gloria Assimwe (73 Nett)
2 – K.K Security: 223
Pro : Opio Onito (75 Gross)
Amateurs: Tumwesigye, Michael Mwine and Michael Odur
3 – Case Medicare: 227 Points
Pro : Vincent Byamukama – 74 Gross
Amateurs: Kato John (89 Nett), Katty Kabenge (79 Nett) and Francis Ngabo (74 Nett)
4 – Sheraton A : 228 Points
Pro: Richard Ainley (75 Gross)
Amateurs: John Kasagaki (74 Nett), Daniel Basweti (80 Nett) and Patrick Mugisha (79 Nett)