Tournament: Tusker Malt Uganda Open Golf Championship 2020
Duration: 26th November – 6th December 2020.
Venue: Uganda Golf Club, Kitante
Upcoming Event:
*Amateur Gross: 1st to 4th December 2020
Uganda national Amateur team Captain Joseph Cwinyai-ai is one of the top picks by major pundits to win the Amateur gross title of the Tusker Malt Uganda Open Golf Championship 2020 when over 100 players tee-off for the second phase of the tournament on Tuesday till Friday at Uganda Golf Club’s (UGC) par-72 course in Kitante.
Defending champion Daniel Nduva, a South African based Kenyan is a no show for this year’s event hence Cwinyai-ai, handicap +1 who is in pursuit for a maiden championship remains the main talk of town.
Cwinyai-ai who was best Ugandan to finish behind three Kenyans with a total gross score of 293 (76, 73, 73, 72) in the last year’s Open in now ready to get off the mark.
“I have prepared enough and I think the tournament has come up at the right time where by I am more than ready. I have been doing daily training sessions with my fellow national team players and our professionals way back at home. I am good to go,” Cwinyai-ai said adding that Nduva’s absence gives him a chance to win the title.
Cwinyai-ai also says that lockdown didn’t affect him hence he has no old skin to shed off.
“Luckily enough the lockdown got me upcountry on my home course (Toro Golf Club) where by it didn’t affect me much because I used to play on every single day just that we lacked tournaments due to the lockdown. I haven’t been a regular at UGC but well apart from the water hazards in the course, the course plays almost similarly to my home course,” Cwinyai-ai who won the Kitante Open at UGC in February added.
However, Kenyans remain the biggest threat at the event with Vet Lab Golf Club’s trio of Isaac Makokha Ogola, Ebill Otieno Omollo and Jackson Mureithi Mwangi likely to send shivers to rivals.
Tanzanian Joseph Victor, handicap +2 of Dar-es-Salaam Golf Club is another top player in pursuit for a maiden championship.
For Uganda’s case, there are lots of players who can wreck havoc in pecking order including Denis Styles Asaba, Ibrahim Aliga, Christopher Baguma among other fierce stars who have been regulars at UGC for their practice rounds.
The Amateur event is the oldest category of the championship and it will mark its 79th edition this year.
The tournament sponsors are; Tusker Malt Lager (main sponsor), Next Media, Master Power Systems, Stanbic Bank, Pinnacle Security, Crown Berger, Crown Beverages, Robert Ojara Education Foundation and Case Medcare.
Uganda Open Previous 10 Amateur Winners:
2019 – Daniel Nduva (Kenya)
2018 – Ronald Otile (Uganda)
2017 – Ronald Rugumayo (Uganda)
2016 – Ronald Otile (Uganda)
2015 – Ronald Otile (Uganda)
2014 – Willy Deus Kitata (Uganda)
2013 – Peter Ssendawula (Uganda)
2012 – Philip Kasozi (Uganda)
2011 – Rogers Byaruhanga (Uganda)
2010 – Brian Mwesigwa (Uganda)
