Uganda Ladies Golf Open: Kabasweke takes two-stroke lead on Day One

2020 Uganda Ladies Golf Open:

Day 1 Leader: Peace Kabasweke – 79

Others:

Martha Babirye – 81
Irene Nakalembe – 81
Judith Komugisha – 82
Evarlyn Assimwe – 83

Peace Kabasweke returned 7 – over par 79 to boss the rest of the field day one of the 2020 Uganda Ladies Golf Open at the Uganda Golf Club – Kitante in Kampala on Thursday, November 26, 2020.

The handicap 4 golfer thus took the famous day one bragging rights during the opening round of the 54 holes action that climax on Saturday.

It was a terrible day at office for many of the 26 golfers in action with wet conditions following rains on the tournament eve that continued on Thursday afternoon.

Peace Kabasweke holds her club after swinging off (Credit: John Batanudde)

The duo of defending champion Martha Babirye and Irene Nakalembe shared joint second position with an identical 9-over par 81.

Judith Komugisha and Evarlyn Assimwe scored 82 and 83 gross scores to take fourth and fifth positions respectively.

“The heavily soaked fairways slightly affected me. Going into day two, let us anticipate less rains. We tee off in the same group of handicap and play at the same pace on the course,” Babirye, the reigning champion explained.

Martha Babirye swings off at the opening tee-box (Credit: John Batanudde)

Babirye had a torrid time on holes 13 and 18 during the back 9 action.

On hole 18, she had to endure two sand bunkers as she eyed the pin on the green in the midst of the cheering gallery at the famous 19^th hole.

Day two swings off as early as 8 am with the subsidiary category.

Irene Nakalembe holds club on the shoulders (Credit: John Batanudde)

The main pressure group that has leader Kabasweke, Nakalembe and Babirye tees off by 11 am.

Being the rainy season, more rains are expected to fall in and will subsequently have an effect on the performance of the golfers and scores as well.

The 2020 Open was earlier supposed to be held in September was pushed ahead because of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Caddies during a ball searching mission on hole no.13 for golfer Resty Nalutaaya. The ball was missed and player penalized by a stroke (Credit: John Batanudde)

The rains set in the afternoon during the closing action (Credit: John Batanudde)

Professional Deo Akope (a starter) briefs the golfers (Credit: John Batanudde)

COVID-19 marshals were deployed to enforce the strict regulations from the Ministry of Health as well as the National Council of Sports in respect of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) to mitigate the spread of the highly contagious disease.

Regular sanitizing, hand-washing, wearing of face masks and social distancing were all emphasized at all times.