Age is just a number, and 50-year-old Michael Tumusiime proved it with a determined performance at the par-71 Entebbe Golf Club.
Holding off challenges from promising young talents Elton Thembo, Samuel Bazaale, and Uganda Open champion Joseph Reagan Akena, Tumusiime emerged victorious in the second leg of the Pearl of Africa (POA) Golf Series.
Tumusiime’s steady round of 73 was enough to secure the title on a day when Thembo struggled with his worst golf of the tournament. The decisive moment came on holes 13 through 16, where Tumusiime gained five strokes on his faltering rival. Thembo crumbled under pressure, making crucial decision-making errors on the back nine that cost him the championship.
Speaking after his win, a jubilant Tumusiime expressed his excitement: “First wins are always to be savoured. I am happy to finally get it out of the way and hope it’s just the first of many more to come.”
A dedicated amateur, Tumusiime regularly trains on various aspects of his game through a structured routine, keeping him among the top amateur golfers in the country. His triumph earned him UGX 1.7 million, with the remaining UGX 5 million prize pool shared among Thembo, Akena, Kasozi, and Kambale.
In the professional category, Herman Deco Mutebi started the final round with a two-shot advantage, but double bogeys on holes 17 and 18 by Rodell Gaita saw Mutebi take sole leadership.
However, Gaita remains in contention alongside Abraham Ainamani, David Kamulindwa, and Silver Opio, trailing by three strokes.
Silver Opio and Opio Onito delivered the best score of the day, a remarkable 69, while veteran Herman Mutaswe struggled to an 80 after an early quadruple bogey.
The final leg of the Pearl of Africa Golf Series will be held in Lugazi in July. The series has been supported by Home Bliss Hotel, Fort Portal, MTN, Entebbe Golf Club, Uganda Golf Union, Aquafina, NBS Sport, Vivo Energy, Mighty Rides, and IOTEC.
