Kenya's Ndovu is the 2019 Uganda Amateur Golf Open champion

New champion Nduva from Kenya. PHOTO LOUIS JADWONG

1⃣D Nduva 🇰🇪 ✳ 286 📷
2⃣ S Njogu 🇰🇪 ✳ 287
3⃣ S Njoroge 🇰🇪 ✳ 288
4⃣ J Cwinyaai 🇺🇬 ✳ 293
5⃣ D Asaba 🇺🇬 ✳ 295
6⃣ R Otile 🇺🇬 ✳ 295
💠Venue: Lake Victoria Serena
💠 LIVE: Results (click)

Kigo, Uganda | LOUIS JADWONG | Kenyan Daniel Nduva is the new Uganda Amateur Golf Open champion.

The 23-year old Nyali Golf Club player carded a 72-hole score of 286, to secure a one-stroke come-from-behind victory. He carded 75, 70, 71, 70 in the four rounds.
Nduva becomes the first Kenyan to take Uganda's most prestigious title since 2007, when fellow countryman Nicholas Rokoine from Muthaiga Golf Club won.

"We came here to win, and I am happy it turned out as we planned. I dedicate this victory to my mum, who did everything to make me who I am, and helped me start playing the game of golf," Nduva said.

Simon Njogu, who had led all of the three opening rounds, failed to secure a play-off opportunity, when he missed a birdie on the final hole.

The top three places were taken by the Kenyans, with Samuel Njoroge setting the early pressure in the final round with a hole-in-one on hole 4.

Defending champion Ronald Otile conceded defeat. " It did not work the way I had planned on the final day. I had wanted to play one or two under in the first 9 holes, but my tee shots did not work out. The 8 strokes on hole 13 killed it all."

"I will not come back next year. I will leave the championship contest for the much younger Ugandan lads," he said.

Otile had put up a phenomenal come-back after a disastrous 82 strokes on day one, to make the pressure group on the final day on Saturday.

The 24-year-old carded an astonishing 66 - six under par on Friday, courtesy of a eagle, six birdies and 9 pars.

Otile rewrote the record he had set just a day earlier with a four under par 68 strokes as he chased a pack of Kenyans, who dominated the 78th Uganda Amateur Golf Open from day one.

Uganda's best player was Joseph Cwinyaai, seven strokes behind at 293, followed by Denis Asaba who carded at 295.

The four-day 72 hole Amateur Open is Ugandan golf's most prestigious title. It is held a few days after the Ladies Open that was won by Uganda's Martha Babirye, and a week before the professional Open.

There will be a Pro Am tournament on Tuesday, before Dismas Indiza, from Mumias Club Kenya takes to the course to defend his Professional Open title. He leads a Kenyan team of 24 professionals to the event.

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