POA: Kasango in three-stroke lead, Cwinya-ai shows amateurs who is boss

Entebbe, Uganda | UGU MEDIA | Grace Kasango is not a golfer of many words. The lanky boy from the East often reminds friends that he prefers to talk with his clubs. And on Thursday, he duly did. Kasango shot a four-under 67 to race into a three-stroke lead in the opening round of the Pearl of Africa (POA) Professionals’ competition at the par-71 Entebbe Club.

Kasango opened his round hot after two birdies in the opening two holes, and despite losing a stroke on the fifth green, he erased the bogey with a birdie on the ninth. Three straight red scores on 11, 12 and 13 created some daylight between him and the chasing pack, but a bogey on 16 means he is not yet out of sight.

And that is because Ronald Rugumayo is three strokes back after a one-under 70. The South Africa-based MTN-sponsored golfer was cruising before a double bogey on hole 16 stained his round. Rugumayo, however, will embrace the challenge of being the chaser, but he won’t be doing it alone. Davis Kato on 71 is also on the prowl and is by no means out of it.

Others who are still in contention are the trio of Rodell Gaita Taddeo, Vincent Araali Byamukama and David Kamulindwa; all three are looked on with the level score of 71, with Marvin Max Kibirige and Philip Kasozi both tied on 73.

In the elite amateurs, Joseph Cwinya-ai is almost certainly competing against himself after opening up an 8-stroke lead yesterday. His opening rounds of 68 and 67 mean that it will take a collapse of biblical proportions for another name to emerge as gross amateur winner Friday other than the Tooro-born golfer.

Out of action for a while, Cwinya-ai has returned to play the Pearl of Africa Golf Series like a wounded buffalo.

Meanwhile a notable entrant in the top three after two rounds is Shaka Kariisa whose level-par 71 was achieved with an eagle on the final hole.

Sandwiched by Cwinyaai and Kariisa is former Uganda Open champion Andrew Ssekibejja who is holding second position by a stroke. The amateurs are competing for a Shs5m kitty with the winner set to walk away with Shs1,500,000 and world amateur golf ranking points.

This year’s Pearl of Africa Golf Series have been supported by Exim Bank, Uganda Golf Union (UGU), Vivo Energy, Aquafina, Home Bliss and Case Medical Services. Saturday’s final round for the professionals will also have a subsidiary event that will include side bets for the longest drive and nearest-to-the-pin for both men and ladies.

Started last year, the Pearl of Africa Golf series organization has a long-term vision of growing a championship that can transform the perception of pro-golf in the country.

Pros Day 2, Amateurs Day 3