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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Big hitter Indiza wins record 5th Uganda Pro Open

Indiza gets his trophy from Nile Breweries Operations chief Thomas Kamphuis
PHOTO @Castleliteug

PRO OPEN top 7

➡️ D. Indiza  68, 65, 68, 73 *274 (-10) PRIZE ✔️ Sh41 million 
➡️ G.Snow  69, 68, 69,72 *278 (-6) PRIZE ✔️ Sh27 million
➡️ J. Moore  69, 67, 74, 72  *282 (-2) PRIZE ✔️ Sh15.4 million
➡️ D.Anguyo   70, 74, 69, 70 *283 (-1) PRIZE ✔️ Sh11.4 million
➡️ R.Happy   72, 69, 68, 74 *283 (-1) PRIZE ✔️ Sh9 million
➡️ M. Madalitso  76, 66,66, 77 *285 (+1) PRIZE ✔️ Sh7.6 million
➡️ S.Ferreira   73, 70, 72, 71 *286 (+2) PRIZE ✔️ Sh6.5 million

STATS 

⛳ Most Eagles
✔️ Denis Anguyo  3
➡Kitata  2
➡Omondi  2

⛳ Most Birdies
✔️ Dismas Indiza  24
➡Greg Snow   20

⛳ Most Pars
✔️ Owiti Kutwa  47
➡Silver Opio  47
➡Stephen Ferreira  46

⛳ Most Birdies or better
✔️ Dismas Indiza  24
➡Greg Snow  20
➡Denis Anguyo 17

⛳ Most Pars or better
✔️Dismas Indiza  60
➡John Dayne Moore   60
➡Greg Snow  59

⛳ Par 5 average
✔️ Indiza  4.35
➡Snow  4.50
➡Baguma  4.55

⛳ Par 4 average
✔️ Herman Mutawe  3.93
➡Robert Happy  3.96
➡Anguyo  4.00

⛳ Par 3 average
✔️Kitata  2.92
➡Ferreira  3.00
➡Snow  3.00

⛳ Holes in one
✔️ Mutebi  Hole 2 day 2
✔️ Kitata  Hole 10, day 1

Entebbe, Uganda | LOUIS JADWONG | Kenyan ace Dismas Indiza cemented his place in Uganda Professional Golf Open history with a record 5th title on Saturday at the Entebbe Golf Club. 

The long-hitting Indiza bounced back from five fruitless trips to Uganda with a commanding performance at the professional category at the 2018 Castlelite Uganda Open, for his first win here since 2012.

Known as the "Big Hitter" on the Kenyan professional circuit, he said there is no secret to his winning performance. "Practice makes perfect," he said, in a special message to the many young professional who competed against him at Entebbe's par-71 lakeside course.

"In the week before I traveled for the Uganda Open, I had been hitting 200 balls off the range every morning before playing 36 holes. I am dedicated and winning comes as a result of practice," he said.

If the youngsters needed a good golfing lesson, Indiza gave one in the four-day, 72 hole $50,000 event sponsored by Nile Breweries under their brand Castle Lite.

He hit a stunning 24 birdies over the 72 holes, carding 3-under par 68 on day one and three, 6 under par 65 on day two before crowning it by playing "safe" on the final day, with a 1 over 73 that had 13 pars.

Indiza took home sh41 million, an early birthday present as he celebrates his 50th birthday this year.

Indiza responds to cheers as he strolled to victory

Kenyan colleague Gregg Snow came second,4 strokes back while defending champion Stephen Ferreira from Portugal recovered from a poor start to finished 7th.

The two are fresh from another battle earlier this month in the Safari Tour Golf Series 2nd leg at Vet Lab course. 

Muthaiga Golf Club’s Snow held his nerve to beat Indiza in a playoff to claim the top prize of sh5million. 

Ugandans struggle

The last Ugandans to have won in the Open were Vincent Byamukama and Deo Akope in 2013 and 2014.

Byamukama did not even make the cut this year, while Akope finished 34th, with an 18 over par score.

The best Ugandans this year were Denis Anguyo 4th and Robert Happy in 5th. 

US based Kitata hit a hole-in-one

Playing for pride was newly-crowned Amateur Open Champion Ronald Otile, who made the cut and was joint 17th, with a score of 294 (+10)

The event marked the climax of an amazing three weeks of Uganda Open action. 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.

Action next year shifts to the Lake Victoria Serena Golf Course, Kigo.

Serena Lake Victoria, venue for next year's Open.
TWITTER PHOTO Christopher Nambale

➡️ Click for full results 

****
WINNERS 
2006 – Deo Akope (Uganda)
2007 – Dismas Indiza (Kenya)
2008 – Dismas Indiza (Kenya)
2009 – Richard Ainley (Kenya)
2010 – Jean Baptiste Hakizimana (Rwanda)
2011 – Dismas Indiza (Kenya)
2012 – Dismas Indiza (Kenya)
2013 – Vincent Byamukama (Uganda)
2014 – Deo Akope (Uganda)
2015 – Madalisto Muthiya (Zambia)
2016 – Joshua Seale (South Africa)
2017 – Stephen Ferriera (Portugal)
2018 -  Dismas Indiza

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