Rugumayo shows intent, takes charge at Uganda Golf Open

🔴 LEADERBOARD Uganda Golf ⛳️ Open

✳ Ronald Rugumayo 🇺🇬 67 (-5)
✳ Celestin Nsanzuwera 🇷🇼 69 (-3)
✳ David Kamulindwa 🇺🇬 69 (-3)

Kampala, Uganda | LOUIS JADWONG | Ronald Rugumayo has bemoaned the lack of a Uganda winner of the pro event at the Uganda Golf Open in 8 years, and is already doing something about it.

“Ugandans have been struggling to win the Uganda Open, but this year, I see a Ugandan winning the Open. I can promise you that,” he told NBS Sport before teeing off on day one of the Johnnie Walker Uganda Golf Open at Kitante in Kampala.

By end of a day, in which rain had left many professionals frustated by the slow greens, Rugumayo had raced into the lead, after carding a stunning 67. An bogey free round of golf that produced 5 birdies and 13 pars, put him two clear going into Thursday’s day two of the Uganda Open.

Close behind him is Rwandan ace Celestin Nsanzuwera, whose final score is remarkable given that in there he overcame 5 bogeys to hit 69.

All the other list of favourites struggled after  heavy rains at the Kitante golf course forced a delayed start, and late ending with a group or two being caught by bad light at the end of the day.

Uganda’s Ronald Otile (74) and  Kenya’s Mutahi Kibugu  (76) are way back off the pace, and will look for a change of fortunes in the last three rounds.

Amateur champion Godfrey Nsubuga showed he can match the very best, returning a score of a 1 under par, 71.

The winner of Uganda Pro Golf Open Championship will walk away with sh21 million out of the 100 million prize kitty. The top 30 will share the kitty and earn points for the Safari Tour.

The tournament is sponsored by Uganda Breweries Limited under their brand Johnnie Walker, co-sponsors are ABSA Bank Uganda, Pinnacle Security Limited, Crown Beverages, NBS Sport, HK Properties, Medisell, Case Medical Services, HTC Hub, NCS, Royal and Ancient.

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✳ Winners of Pro Open since 2006:
2006 – Deo Akope (Uganda)
2007 – Dismas Ndiza (Kenya)
2008 – Dismas Ndiza (Kenya)
2009 – Richard Ainley (Kenya)
2010 – Dismus Ndiza (Kenya)
2011 – Dismus Ndiza (Kenya)
2012 – Dismus Ndiza (Kenya)
2013 – Vicent Byamukama (Uganda)
2014 – Deo Akope (Uganda)
2015 – Madalisto Muthiya (Zambia)
2016 – Joshua Seale (South Africa)
2017 – Stephen Ferriera (Portugal)
2018 – Dismas Indiza (Kenya)
2019 – Madalisto Muthiya (Zambia)
2020 – Robson Chinhoi (Zimbabwe)
2021 – Jastas Madoya (Kenya)
2022 – Robson Chinoi
2023 – ????

Day 2 draw