Marvin Kibirige on Thursday, 18th May 2023 equalled Uganda Golf Club’s (UGC) par-72 course record of 63 after he shot 9 under par during the first leg of the professional event of the Absa Bank Captain’s Bell tournament.
It was local professional Deo Akope who first set the UGC course record of 63 in March 2011 during one of the MTN monthly mugs then.
Later in 2011, Kenyan professional Richard Ainley equaled the Kitante based course record on day two of the KCB Tour Uganda in July that year.
Kibirige who joined professional ranks recently now becomes the third player to manage a course record of 63 at UGC and will carry his head high heading into Friday’s professionals final round of the Absa Bank sponsored tournament whose kitty is UGX 10,000,000.
Kenyan professional Dismas Indiza is the other player with a course record on Ugandan soil. His score of 9 under par 63 during the 2019 Uganda Golf Open at Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort and Spa’s par-72 course in Kigo is still the course record there. The Serena 63 Golf Series was this year invented in honor of his achievement and he will be invited for the prize giving ceremony of the tournament when it winds down on 9th December 2023.
Meanwhile, Kibirige who is from Mary Louise Simkins Golf Club had an impressive bogey-free opening round of the two-day event and he boosts of a seven-stroke lead ahead of second placed Adolf Muhumuza who has 2 under par. The major highlight of his round was when he sunk in an eagle at par-4 hole 2.
Deo Akope who won last year’s professional event with 4 under par 140 in two rounds is tied for third with Philip Kasozi off 1 under par 71.
David Kamulindwa, Vincent Byamukama and Abraham Ainamani are tied for fifth with level.
Irene Nakalembe who is the only lady in the mix is tied for 16th with seven others. A total of 31 golfers graced the professional event.
The main event (amateur) of the Captain’s Bell tournament will be played on Saturday at the same venue. There are lots of prizes to be won across various categories including side bets. The mode of play will be medal. Last year, Dickson Agaba and Bernadette Musanabera emerged overall winners in the men’s and ladies’ categories of the amateur event off 40 points (c/b) and 41 points respectively. Musanabera also won the ladies longest drive prize.
Every year, the Captain’s Bell Tournament is hosted by the Uganda Golf Club to officially usher in the club’s newly elected Captain and his committee. The 2023/24 committee is led by Captain Emmanuel Wamala and his Vice-Captain Paul Fitzgerald Nuwagaba, who have been re-elected to lead the committee. The captain is looking forward to the event.
