Otile makes history with 3rd Uganda Open victory

Otile kisses the trophy.  📷 @jadwong 

AMATEUR OPEN TOP  7
➡️ Ronald Otile   285 (+1)
➡️ Edwin Mudanyi   (+2)
➡️ John Karichu  (+2)
➡️ Herman Mutebi    (+6)
➡️ Joseph Cwinyai   (+7)
➡️ Daniel Baguma    (+7)
➡️ Joel Basalaine   (+12)

******
Uganda Open Golf Championships 2018
➡️Ladies Open  ✅   Champ Neema Olomi 
➡️Amateur Open ✅  Champ Ronald Otile
➡️Pro-Am         25th September, 2018
➡️Professional Open  26th - 29th September, 2018
➡️Venue:  Entebbe Club
******

Entebbe, Uganda | LOUIS JADWONG | Ronald Otile joined Ugandan golf greats with his third Amateur Open title Saturday, after an amazing comeback from 5 strokes behind in the last 6 holes.

"It was my Lion Heart" that did it, he said, explaining how he did not lose hope after carding 9 on hole 11.

At the troublesome 11th, Otile went out of bounds, incurring a two shot penalty, before "jaffering" the hole, to fall five behind. 

Otile however followed that setback with four birdies on holes, 14,15,16 and 18 for a day's 74 and total score of 285 for victory by one stroke over Kenyan pair of John Karichu (72)  and Edwin Mudanyi (68).

Basaliza and Otile.    📷 @jadwong

Otile now becomes only the eighth golfer to win three titles in the 77-year history of the Uganda Amateur Golf Open.

The most senior of Uganda's veteran golfers Emmanuel Basaliza, 93, who has probably played against some of the greats, joined Otile in the celebrations.

The small group of three time winners in the Amateur Open are H. Davidson (1932-3,1937), Mike Johnson (1960-61-62), John Higginson (1963-4-6), legend Sadi Onito ( 1976 to 1978, 83, 1985 to 1988, 1991, 1994-1996), Juma Jaffer (1981-82, 1992), Steven Birungi (1997-1999) and Deo Akope (2000-2002)

The winning final putt

After drawing level with Mudanyi at the 17th, both landed on the green with their 3rd shot, right within striking distance of the hole. Otile faced the trickier putt, having to roll the ball downwards to get a birdie to go one ahead while for the Kenyan, a similar score would have them level for a play-off.

Otile held his nerve, and curved the ball towards the pin and in on the "Dan Nkata" hole 18 to spark delayed birthday celebrations for him.

VIDEO




The four-day 72 hole Amateur  Open is Ugandan golf's most prestigious title. This year's event has come a week after the Ladies Open that was won by Tanzanian Neema Olomi, and a week before the  professional Open.

Nile Breweries under their brand Castle Lite, are the anchor sponsors of the Open. Co-sponsors are Barclays Bank, Britam Insurance, CBA Africa, Kwese Sports, Ernest and Young, Minet, Gems Cambridge Int School, Nation Media Group, Kwese Sports, Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort and Spa and Time Cop.

LAST YEAR's scoreboard top 4
➡️ Ronald Rugumayo 80  78  69  72  299
➡️ Ronald Otile 72  79  76  72  299
➡️ Paul Muchangi      76  77  78  69  300
➡️ Samuel Njoroge     77  79  71  74  301
             
Golf Open Winners since 1932
1932 – H.Davidson (Uganda Golf Club)
1933 – H.Davidson (Uganda Golf Club)
1934 – R.W Hooker (Muthaiga Golf Club)
1935 – J.D Rankine (Uganda Golf Club)
1936 – J.D Rankine (Uganda Golf Clun)
1937 – H. Davidson (Uganda Golf Club)
1938 – R.W Bun (Mombasa Golf Club)
1939 – J.E Higginson
1940 – 1947 NOT HELD
1948 – D. F Stewart (Uganda Golf Club)
1949 – A.Q Roberts (Kitale Golf Club)
1950 – N.C Elwell (Uganda Golf Club)
1951 – N.C Elwell (Mwanza Golf Club)
1952 – J.R Cooke (Uganda Golf Club)
1953 – R.W Hooper (Nairobi Golf Club)
1954 – M.Johnson (Kabalae Golf Club)
1955 – J.R Oglive (Kitale Golf Club)
1956 – J.R Oglive (Kitale Golf Club)
1957 – Ian McAdam (Uganda Golf Club)
1958 – Brian Malone (Uganda Golf Club)
1959 – Ian McAdam (Uganda Golf Club)
1960 – Mike Johnson (Mbale Golf Club)
1961 – Mike Johnson (Mbale Golf Club)
1962 – Mike Johnson (Mbale Golf Club)
1963 – John Higginson (Uganda Golf Club)
1964 – John Higginson (Uganda Golf Club)
1965 – Muhammed Rajab (Nairobi Golf Club)
1966 – John Higginson (Uganda Golf Club)
1967 – I.Pattinson (Dar es Salaam Golf Club)
1968 – G.Burrows (Uganda Golf Club)
1969 – M.Rajab(Nairobi Golf Club)
1970 – M.Couma (Uganda Golf Club)
1971 – J. Kahugu (Sigona Golf Club)
1972 – Ben Okello (Masaka Golf Club)
1973 – Tom Taban (Uganda Golf Club)
1974 – Alex Okodan (Uganda Golf Club)
1975 – Ramathan Kayamba (Uganda Golf Club)
1976 – Sadi Onito (Jinja Golf Club)
1977 – Sadi Onito (Jinja Golf Club)
1978 – Sadi Onito (Jinja Golf Club)
1979 – 1980 – Not held
1981 – Juma Jaffer (Uganda Golf Club)
1982 – Juma Jaffer (Uganda Golf Club)
1983 – Sadi Onito (Uganda Golf Club)
1984 – John Mucheru (Uganda Golf Club)
1985 – Sadi Onito (Jinja Golf Club)
1986 – Sadi Onito (Jinja Golf Club)
1987 – Sadi Onito (Jinja Golf Club)
1988 – Sadi Onito (Jinja Golf Club)
1989 – Allan Njoroge (Muthaiga Golf Club)
1990- Dedan Kagonyera (Kabale Golf Club)
1991 – Sadi Onito (Jinja Golf Club)
1992 – Juma Jaffer (Uganda Golf Club)
1993 – John Gavin (Uganda Golf Club)
1994 – Sadi Onito (Jinja Golf Club)
1995 – Sadi Onito (Jinja Golf Club)
1996 – Sadi Onito (Jinja Golf Club)
1997 – Steven Birungi (Uganda Golf Club)
1998 – Steven Birungi (Uganda Golf Club)
1999 – Steven Birungi (Uganda Golf Club)
2000 – Deo Akope (Entebbe Golf Club)
2001 – Deo Akope (Entebbe Golf Club)
2002 – Deo Akope (Entebbe Golf Club)
2003 – Charles Yokwe (Jinja Golf Club)
2004 – David Odhiambo (Nyanza Golf Club)
2005 – Charles Yokwe (Jinja Golf Club)
2006 – Amos Kamya (Entebbe Golf Club)
2007 – Nicholas Rokoine (Muthaiga Golf Club)
2008 – George Olayo (Entebbe Golf Club)
2009 – Peter Ssendaula (Entebbe Golf Club)
2010 – Brian Mwesigwa (Kabale Golf Club)
2011 –Rogers Byaruhanga (Uganda Golf Club)
2012 – Phillip Kasozi (Uganda Golf Club)
2013 – Peter Ssendaula (Entebbe Golf Club)
2014 - Kitata (Entebbe Golf Club)
2015 - Ronald Otile (Tooro Golf Club)
2016 - Ronald Otile (Tooro Golf Club)
2017 -  Ronald Rugumayo (Tooro Golf Club)
2018 - Ronald Otile (Tooro Golf Club)