The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Cwinya-ai finished the final two days stronger, climbs to third
Kampala, Uganda | UGU MEDIA | Dominic Musonda didn’t play his best game in the fourth and final round of the Uganda Open. But that was largely because he didn’t need to. At one point, midway through the front nine, he was coasting with a 10-stroke advantage. The electrical engineering student was in so much comfort that his title, sewn up after he shot 64 on Thursday, was always secure even when fellow Zambian Gilbert Chalwe made a late surge.
Musonda wrapped up the Johnnie Walker Uganda Open Amateur title Friday afternoon after playing nine-under. He was three shots better than Chalwe. Playing from Nkana Golf Club in the Copperbelt region of Zambia, Musonda will take particular delight in this accomplishment, having lost out to Uganda’s Joseph Cwinya-ai in last year’s tournament that was played at Lugazi Hills Golf & Country Club.
Cwinya-ai finished the final two days stronger and closed the competition in third spot but will rue poor rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday that put paid to his chances of a successful defence. His card of 70 catapulted him to third, one stroke better than Joseph Kasozi who went cold progressively after a blistering start.
Other Ugandans who made the top 10 on the leaderboard were Lawrence Walakira, whose two-under 70 was riddled with seven birdies, Joel Okoth, John Musiimenta, Godfrey Kambale and Sande Lulet. The other non-Ugandan was another Zambian, Musamba Kapoma, who tied fifth alongside Musiimenta, Okoth and Walakira.
The shot of the day, meanwhile, belonged to Ignatious Twesigye who hit an ace on the fourth hole. It was his first ever hole-in-one and one that made his decision to participate in the Open worthwhile after labourious rounds over the four days. Twesigye hit a crisp 50-degree wedge into the bottom of the flag.
On Saturday, group B golfers conclude the subsidiary round of the competition before what promises to be a spectacular prize-giving ceremony to crown Musonda and the other golfers who impressed over four competitive days of golf.
Other sponsors of the Uganda Golf Open are ABSA Bank, Aquafina, Medisell, Finaltus, Case Hospital, MTN, National Council of Sports, NBS, Pearl Marina, Rosefoam, Uganda Airlines, Uganda Tourism Board, Uganda Golf Club, Total Energies and R&A.
