By Frank Kamuntu
Zambian Muthiya Madalitso won his 2nd Uganda Open professional title, edging Zimbabwe’s Charamba Tongoona by four shots at the Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort and Spa course on Saturday.
The 36-year-old Zambian ace who has played golf since he was six, ended the 72 hole event with a score of 279, nine-under par to win the sh41 million top prize. He beat others like Charamba who got Sh27m, Ferreira Shs15m and Indiza Sh11m .
One of the highlights over the four rounds was the day 3 course record of 63, six-under par by defending champion Indiza as he fought back to make the pressure group on day 4.
The Kenyan 50-year old golf veteran blazed to a bogey-free round, sinking birdies in all but three holes on the first nine, and sinking another three on the back nine.
The Open this year is Uganda’s first Safari Pro Tour event and attracted a record number of foreign entrants gunning for a lion’s share of the USD50,000 cash prize
Players from 19 different countries including Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa, Botswana, Nigeria, Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal, Seychelles, Swaziland, USA, Spain and Portugal competed.
The Pro event marks the climax of an amazing three weeks of Uganda Open action that started with the Ladies, then Amateur, and ended with the Professionals.
Uganda’s Martha Babirye won the Ladies Open, while Kenyan Daniel Ndovu emerged Uganda Amateur Open.
