CAA Seniors Open Golf Championship
*Overall winner men: Fred Kasumba – 72 c/b
*Overall winner women: Ruth Ssali – 76 nett
Senior golfers Fred Kasumba and Ruth Ssali emerged overall winners of the CAA Seniors Open Golf Championship in the men’s and women’s pools respectively on Saturday at Uganda Golf Club’s (UGC) par-72 course in Kitante.
Kasumba was tied with Caleb Kakuyo off 72 nett but beat him on count back while Ssali had 76 nett while last year’s ladies winner Jenina Nasimolo finished as runner up with 77.
“It’s unbelievable today that I’m the overall winner because in the front nine I didn’t do well at all as I played 47. I got a stomachache somewhere in the back nine and I said to my self you must finish this tournament,” Kasumba who also claimed seniors nearest to the pin honors told the audience at the 19th hole.
“I sat down after finishing each hole but I hanged on. I played a few birdies in the front nine and about four pars on the back nine.
In each hole that I played badly, I shifted focus to the next one,” Kasumba noted at the event primarily meant for golfers aged 55 years and above.
Kasumba, Ssali won themselves an accommodation of two each at Trackers Lodge in Bwindi that must be utilized between 27 – 28 December 2020.
Men’s gross winner was Joseph Bagabo off 87 nett on count back while Edrae Kagambe was ladies gross winner with 91 nett.
Gross winners were awarded with air tickets courtesy of Uganda Airlines and they will travel to any East African country of their choice.
In the gold category (70+ years), Uganda Senior Golfing Society Chairperson Mark Ntege emerged winner with 75 nett while Sam Zaramba was runner-up off 76.
Dave Plenderleith was the Silver (65-69 years) winner off 73 nett while Patrick Kagoro was runner-up with 76 on count back.
In the bronze (55-64 years) category, Caleb Kakuyo was winner with 72 nett while Henry Rugamba emerged second with 74 nett.
CAA’s Hellen Wenene Kakuru graced the tournament that also doubled as the flagship event for the Aviation Week.
“Next year we shall be doing the same thing because you golfers are our key stake holders,” Wenene assured seniors before highlighting the current hardships facing the airline industry in this COVID-19 times.
Meanwhile, players under 55 years also graced the championship and played in a subsidiary event.
Rodell Gaita, Paul Kalemba and Ignatius Twesigye were the men’s group A, B and C winners off 68, 71 and 67 nett respectively.
Judith Komugisha beat Peace Kabasweka with 70 on count back while in women’s group A, Victoria Bagaya was winner off 68 nett with Hisea Koshiba finishing as runner up with 70 nett.
The 2020 Seniors Open Golf Championship was sponsored by Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Uganda Airlines, Uganda Breweries Limited, Pepsi Cola and Tracker Safaris.
