Brave start for South Africa, Cwinya-ai returns best score for Uganda after round 1 | Africa Amateur Golf Championship 2026

The opening round of the 2026 Africa Amateur Championship was held at the Royal Johannesburg course in South Africa on Wednesday, 4th February.

South African Ivan Verster leads the rest of the field with 5-under-67 after scoring 7 birdies, 9 pars and 2 bogies.

Vester is a shot better than countrymates Jack Buchanan and Charl Barnard with 4-under-68.

Another South Africans Johndre Ludick completed the top four positions with 3-under-69.

Five players are jointly tied in fifth place with 2-under-70; Gilbert Chalwe (Zambia), Abou El Ela Issa (Egypt), Dominic Musonda (Zambia), John Lejirma (Kenya) and Van Der Vyver Andries (South Africa).

Uganda’s best player on the round was Joseph Cwinya-ai with 1-over-73; two birdies on 12 and 17; 14 pars, a bogey and a double bogie.

Joseph Reagan Akena is tied 29th with 4-over-76; Abdallah Kakooza is joint 35th on 5-over-77; Titus Okwong is jointly stationed on 43rd position with 7-over-79 and Joseph Kasozi is joint 49th with 8-over-80.

Other Ugandans include Elton Thembo (81) and Lawrence Walakira (83).

A total of 72 players teed off the opening round from South Africa, Egypt, Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, Cameroon, Morocco, Angola, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Benin, Mauritius, Gabon, Syechelles, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Tanzania, Madagascar, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Tunisia and Rwanda.

Thursday, 5th February 2026 is round two. Thembo drives off at 10:06 AM alongside Alexandre Illien (Gabon) and Safouane Diker (Morocco).

Joseph Kasozi will play with Kelvin Isaac Muchenje (Zimbabwe) and Yassine Bencherif (Morocco) at 10:28 AM.

At 10:50 AM; it will be Joseph Cwinya-ai (Uganda), Cilliers Craig (South Africa) and Likius Nande (Namibia).

Lawrence Walakira will follow suit at 11:01 AM with Daniel Kiragu (Kenya and Isiaka Dunia (Tanzania).

Abdallah Kakooza (Uganda) will drive off at 12:03 PM along with Michael Wallace (Zimbabwe) and Tanzania’s Enoshi Wanyeche.

Titus Okwong (Uganda), Tapsoba Siaka (Cote D’IVoire) and Josphat Rono (Kenya) will tee-off by 12:14 PM.

The last Ugandan in action on day two is Joseph Reagan Akena playing with Stefanus Bonifatius (Namibia) and Charl Barnard (South Africa) at 12:25 PM.

Meanwhile, Lisa Coetzer (South Africa) leads the women standings after round one with a course level score (72), a shot better than countrymate Millard Charlotte (73).

Uganda’s Peace Kabasweka is 10th on the leaderboard with 79. Meron Kyomugisha (87) is 18th

Africa Amateur Championship 2026 – Males (Round 1):

Leader: Van Verster (South Africa) – 67

T2: Jack Buchanan (South Africa) – 68

Charl Barnard (South Africa) – 68

4 – Johndre Ludick (South Africa) – 69

T5- Gilbert Chalwe (Zambia) – 70

Abou El Ela Issa (Egypt) – 70

Dominic Musonda (Zambia) – 70

John Lejirma (Kenya) – 70

Van Der Vyver Andries (South Africa) – 70

T10 – Arthur Astin Wade (South Africa) – 71

Craig Cilliers (South Africa) – 71

Michael Wallace (Zimbabwe) – 71

T19 – Joseph Cwinya-ai (Uganda) – 73

Adel Taufiq Balala (Kenya) – 73