Overview:
Round three of the 2023 Victoria Cup will be played on Friday morning with the foursomes before round four's Four Ball Better Ball (4BBB) in the afternoon.
Victoria Cup 2023:
1sT Day:
- Round 1 – Foursomes: Uganda 1-3 Kenya
- Round 2 – Four Ball, Better Ball: Uganda 1.5 – 2.5 Kenya
- Overall: Uganda 2.5 – 5.5 Kenya
It is advantage for the Kenya national golf team over Uganda after the first round of the 2023 Victoria Cup in Kampala.
Kenya leads with 5.5 points as Uganda has managed 2.5 following the completion of the first and second rounds played on Thursday, February 1, 2024 at the par-72 Uganda Golf Club.
During the first round of the foursomes in the morning, Kenya won 3-1.
Only Uganda’s captain Joseph Cwinya-ai and Andrew Ssekibejja won 4/-3 over Michael Karanga and Elvis Muigua in the foursomes.
Kenya rallied to win the other three matches. Dennis Maara and John Lejirma won 1 UP over Joseph Kasozi and Amon Bwambale.
Sammy Mulama and Krisch Beiju also won 1 UP over Titus Okwong and Elton Thembo.
Meanwhile, the fourth match between Abdel Balala and Ebill Omollo and Uganda’s Ibrahim entity of Bagalana and Ssemakula was won by the Kenyans 2 UP.
For the second round of the Four Ball, Better Ball played in the afternoon, Kenya won 2.5 over Uganda’s 1.5.
Reagan Joseph Akena and Cwinya-ai beat Josphat Rono and Danny Chelogoi 4&2.
Kenya’s captain Dennis Maara combined with John Lejirma to win 2 UP over Ssekibejja and Thembo.
Sammy Mulama and Krisch Beiju beat Uganda’s pair of Joseph Kasozi and Amon Bwambale 4&2.
The last game ended all square between Adel Balala and Ebill Omollo (Kenya) with Uganda’s Ibrahim Bagalana and John Musiimenta.
“After a not so convincing first round, we approached the second round with caution with a change in pairings. We managed to win a game and draw the other. We hope for better results on Friday” Flavia Namakula, Uganda’s head coach stated.
Round three will be played on Friday morning with the foursomes before round four (4BBB) in the afternoon.
On Saturday, there will be round five; the singles’ competition as well as the subsidiary event (stableford) before the closing ceremony and prize giving ceremony.
About the Victoria Cup:
The Victoria Cup is an annual golf tournament between the national teams of Uganda and Kenya.
In 2022, the tournament returned after a two-year absence at Limuru club in Nairobi, Kenya with Kenya winning the tournament.
The 2023 edition was not held after a request from Kenya to postpone the event.
Teams’ composition:
Uganda: Joseph Reagan Akena, Ibrahim Bagalana, Amon Bwambale, Joseph Cwinya-ai, Joseph Kasozi, John Musimenta, Titus Okwong, Andrew Ssekibejja, Ibrahim Ssemakula and Elton Thembo
Kenya: John Lejirma, Michael Karanga, Adel Balala, Elvis Muigua, Dennis Maara, Ebill Omollo, Sammy Mulama, Josphat Rono, Krisch Beiju and Danny Chelogoi
