Four Tanzanians are in the top five after the opening round of the 2024 Johnnie Walker Uganda Ladies Open, which began on Thursday at Entebbe Club’s par-71 golf course.
Three-time winner Martha Babirye, who made three birdies on the back nine (holes 11, 15, and 18), is the only Ugandan in the top five of the first round.
Babirye, who is her country’s main hope following the withdrawal of title holder Peace Kabsweka, finished as runner-up with a score of 4 over par (75). She is one shot behind Tanzania’s Hawa Wanyeche, the day-one leader, and one shot ahead of 2018 winner Neema Olomi (also Tanzanian), who is in third place.
Wanyeche birdied the notoriously difficult 17th hole, as well as the first hole and the 13th, but her round was marred by a double-bogey on the 7th hole.
Iddy Madina, last year’s runner-up, is fourth after the first day with a gross score of 78. Having won the Uganda Golf Club Ladies Open the previous weekend, she is considered one of the Tanzanians to watch in Entebbe.
In fifth place, where there is a four-way tie, two players are Tanzanian: Vicky Elias and Aalaa Riyaz Somji. They each shot 79, tied with long-hitting Meron Kyomugisha and Harriet Kitaka.
Somji will be disappointed with her performance over the final three holes. Starting on the 16th, she was three over par and poised to climb the leaderboard. However, back-to-back double bogeys on 16 and 17, followed by a bogey on the 18th, turned a promising card into a disappointing one.
Championships are not won on day one, but Friday’s round will be crucial in determining which golfers remain in contention. The opening five holes of Entebbe are notoriously difficult, as highlighted by yesterday’s round.
Among the 40 golfers who participated, only two birdies were recorded on the first five holes: one by Wanyeche on the first hole and another by Diana Nambalirwa on the fifth. Analytics suggest that a golfer who emerges from the first five holes without a blemish will have a strong chance of winning. The easiest hole of the day was the par-5 11th, which saw seven birdies.
Meanwhile, the Johnnie Walker Uganda Seniors Open also began on Thursday at the same course, featuring golfers aged 55 and over.
Other sponsors of the Johnnie Walker Uganda Open Golf Championship include ABSA Bank, Pinnacle Security Limited, Aquafina, Case Medical Services, HH Solutions, Medisell, NCS, MTN, NBS Sport, and Orchard Interiors.
