By Thomas Odongo
Ugandan professional golfer Ronald Rugumayo who is based in South Africa these days was in the winning team during the Absa Pro-Am tournament of the 2023 Johnnie Walker Uganda Open Golf Championship played on Tuesday at Uganda Golf Club in Kampala.
Rugumayo was in the Johnnie Walker II team and his side emerged overall winners with a total of 115 points. Each team had one professional golfer and three amateurs but the results of the former and two best amateurs were considered to determine scores.
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Rugumayo who is familiar with Uganda Golf Club’s par-72 course had 39 points at the Absa Bank powered event, with his gross score being 3-under par 69. His teammates were; Paul Habyarimana (43 points), Daniel Kalimuzo (33 points) and Sammy Migunda (26 points).
As the team’s professional, Rugumayo earned UGX 3 million for the win courtesy of Absa Bank Uganda.
The Tuesday group win is a huge boost for Rugumayo as he seeks to win his first Professional title at the Uganda Open with the event teeing off this Wednesday at the same venue. Last year, he tied for second with Kenya’s Simon Ngige off 1-under par 287, ten shots behind Robson Chinhoi who won the title.
Meanwhile, HH Solutions II team were runners up at the Pro-Am with 113 points. Rwanda’s Erneste Ndayisenga (31 points) was the team professional and he earned UGX 2.5 million. Michael K. Musiime (44 points), Bob Matsiko (38 points) and Alex Mango (38 points) were his teammate.
Absa team VIII was capped the podium (third place) with a total of 112 points. David Kamulindwa (38 points) was the team professional and he claimed UGX 2 million. Henry Mbonye (35 points), Emma Tayebwa (39 points) and Jimmy Odongkara (35 points) were his teammates.
However, Absa Bank will sponsor 10 golfers for next year’s Magical Kenya Open, a DP World Tour event. The plan is to take top five amateurs and top five professionals from this year’s Uganda Open Pro-Am to the Kenya event, however, the latter will first have to qualify for the tournament through the Safari Tour Series, if not their slots will be taken up by the top 10 amateurs from the Tuesday event in Kampala. The triumphant amateurs will compete at the Pro-Am of the Kenya Open while the professionals will play in the main event (if they qualify).
The top ten amateurs in the Absa Pro-Am tournament are; Michael K. Musiime (44 points), Paul Habyarimana (43 points), Ivan Arinaitwe (40 points), Patricia Mbabazi (40 points), Emma Tayebwa (39 points), Wendy Angudeyo (39 points), Michael Tumusiime (38 points), Alex Mango (38 points), Bob Matisko (38 points) and Emmanuel Wamala (38 points). The top five from this list are set for next year’s Magical Kenya Open while number six to 10 are in line for the same event in case any professional fails to make it to prestigious golfing experience.
The top five professionals from the Pro-Am were; Marvin Kibirige (42 points), Denis Anguyo (40 points), Kenya’s Edwin Mudanyi (40 points), Ronald Rugumayo (39 points) and Namibia’s Paulino Kasoma (39 points). Should these players qualify for the 2024 Magical Kenya Open, they will be sponsored by Absa Bank.
Professional golfers from across the region will start hunting for Safari Tour points this Wednesday at the Uganda Open professional event, which also serves as the opening leg of the 2023/24 Safari Tour. The Entebbe Open scheduled for next week is also a Safari Tour event. After the Uganda legs, the tour will shift to Kenya.
Professional golfers from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe will compete at this year’s Uganda Open.
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