Zimbabwean golfer Robson Chinhoi of Royal Harare Golf Club is winner of the Tusker Malt Uganda Open Golf Championship – Professionals Open after emerging ‘top of the rest’ during the final round of the event played on Sunday at Uganda Golf Club’s (UGC) par-72 course in Kitante.
After four rounds, Chinhoi managed 15 under par (a total gross score of 273) at the event that also doubled as the fourth leg of the Safari Tour, a Qualifier for the 2021 Magical Kenya Open, also a European Tour event.
Chinhoi was 10 strokes better than Professionals Open inaugural (2006) winner and 2014 champion Deo Akope of UGC who shot five under par (283) to finish as second albeit finishing as joint day one leader off two under.
“The course has been tough due to its wet conditions caused by rains. The final day was even more tough as rain interrupted play but thank God we were able to finish our round late in the evening,” Chinhoi said during a media session at the 18th hole.
“I started preparing for this event last month after the Vet Lab leg of the Safari Tour and I’m happy that my efforts have been paid,” Chinhoi who wins his maiden Uganda Open added.
Among other goodies, Chinhoi won himself about Uganda Sh. 22.5M from Tusker Malt’s 100M pro kitty while the remainder of the 35 players who made the cut shared 77.5 % of the prize money according to performance.
The Uganda Open is the fourth leg of the new Safari Tour season and the first event played outside Kenya and the weekend triumph means that Chinhoi now has two titles in the circuit after fighting back on last day to emerge the victor at the Royal Nairobi Golf Club leg off 9 under in October.
Kenya’s Greg Snow who has one Safari Tour leg to his name after winning the Limuru Country Club leg finished seventh at the Uganda Open with two over.
Six time Uganda Open winner and the winner of the Vet Lab leg of the Safari Tour Dismas Indiza (Kenya) finished sixth with Level at Kitante.
2019 winner Muthiya Madalitso finished fourth with two under while former Kenya amateur team captain Njoroge S. Chege managed an impressive three under on his Uganda Open pro debut.
Former Uganda amateur captain Philip Kasozi who has had stints at the recent Safari Tour legs shot one under on home course.
Tusker Malt Uganda Professionals Golf Open Leaderboard
1. Robson Chinhoi (ZW) – 273 Gross
2. Deo Akope (UG) – 283
3. Chege S. Njoroge (KE) – 285
4. Muthiya Madalitso (ZM) – 286
5. Philip Kasozi (UG) – 287
6. Dismas Indiza (KE) – 288
7. Greg Snow (KE) – 290
2020 Uganda Golf Open Winners
*Ladies – Martha Babirye
*Amateurs – John Legirma
*Professionals – Robson Chinhoi
