Namakula defends; picks fourth title

Top-5

1. Namakula – 229 gross
2. Magala – 233
3. Nakalembe -239
4. Shingona – 241
5. Nawa – 245

Longest drive – F. Namakula

Nearest to the pin – G. Mbaguta

Subsidiary – 36 Holes

1. Mugyenzi– 161 gross

Nett winner – F. Kimbugwe – 138nett

With the setting sun’s rays striking through tress to the 18th fairway, a finely poised Flavia Namakula neatly putted to not only defend but also seal her fourth Tusker Malta Uganda Ladies Golf Open title at par-72 Kitante course on Saturday.

Having trailed eventual runner-up Eva Magala on Day One and leveled on Day Two, the victory broken a lot of sweat from the 29-year-old. No wonder Namakula first jubilation was a right-hand fist pump.

“It wasn’t easy, I had to keep clam; Eva played well,” a blissful Namakula said.

Taking a one-shot lead on the back-9, Namakula’s lead was under threat from the 10^th hole shot as she settled for bogey. Eva Magala who was breathing down her neck sunk her shot for par to level the scores.

The par 4 11^th was just was disastrous for Namakula who conceded a drop shot and with it a double bogey. Ea Magala did not do her chase and chance any favours; she settled for a bogey that putt her just one shot behind.

The 12^th hole would offer Namakula’s no reprieve as her tee shot landed into the trees on the left of the fair way. Her approach on the green was not so close to the pin. She settled for bogey as Magala run through with ease for Par.

Namakula however recovered at the 13^th; sinking a birdie, with her closest challenger, Magala faulted on the fairway for bogey, as the latter took a two-shot lead which she maintained until the 15hole where she pulled away with par.

Magala bogeyed and whispers in the gallery crowned the UPDF sergeant champion as two-horse race was over as a contest

“She just upped the ante on the 16^th, 17^th, and we couldn’t stay with her,” said Magala, the runners-up.

Namakula being every pundit’s favourite, the handicap one golfer wasn’t in the best form. She played second fiddle to Irene Nakalembe at the Entebbe Ladies Open (March 7) and South Africa Amateur Open Ladies Championship in Glendower (April 19).

She also finished a distant fourth at the Zambia Ladies Open in Lusaka three weeks ago.

Up next is the highly billed 73rd Amateur Open that has also attracted 27 new entries raising its participation to 90 golfers with the official practice on Tuesday before teeing off on Wednesday (July 22-25).