All to play for on final day of Pearl of Africa golf

Musimenta is first amateur winner of the Pearl of Africa Golf Series

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT & UGC MEDIA |  Uganda’s top professional golfers will slug it out from 11.30am today for honors when the inaugural Pearl of Africa Golf Series reaches a climax at Uganda Golf Club, Kitante.

Marvin Kibirige (-4), Ronald Rugumayo (-2), David Kamulindwa (-1) and Phillip Ssozi (1) form the “pressure group” that tees off just after midday, and, promises fans some scintillating golf. All four have what it takes to take the title and the top prize in the sh20million first leg of the Pearl Of Africa Series.

Kibirige returned a level-par round of 72 on the penultimate round Friday to maintain his lead. The Namulonge born-and-bred golfer was coasting after an eagle on the 8th but a double-bogey on the next hole stained his card. Kibirige has a two-shot lead over rival Rugumayo who played a three-under 69.

Rugumayo’s par-5 troubles, however, haven’t gone away. He had only one birdie, on no.8, which was one of the six he sunk on the day.

Regardless, Mayo’s temperament on the final day is one of his fortes and his chase of Kibirige in the pressure group will attract a sizeable gallery from hole 1-18.

Kamulindwa, who is just three shots off the pace, and Kasozi who played some stunning golf (69) Friday, will be the other two golfers in the four-ball which is most likely to produce the winner.  Today’s round will also include a subsidiary event.

Meanwhile,  John Musimenta made history at Uganda Golf Club at Kitante when he held off a spirited chase from Jinja Club’s Sande Lulet to win the inaugural event of the Pearl of Africa Series.

But it wasn’t as smooth-sailing as it appeared when he shot a 65 on the opening round to race into a seven-shot lead. Through 12 holes on Friday, he was six-over after holing double-bogeys on 2 and 5, and bogeys on 10 and 11. At the time, Lulet was one-under for the day and within two of Musimenta. But the latter held his cool to sink birdies on 13 and 17.

UGC LEG CROWNS ITS CHAMPION: John Musiimenta claims victory clinching the first leg of the @poagolfug with a gutsy gross 218 (65-77-76). The spotlight now shifts to @EntebbeClub1901 for Leg 2 of the series, where he will defend his momentum against Uganda’s elite amateur golfers. pic.twitter.com/Jqg5ruv5ip

— Under Par (@UnderPar_UG) February 7, 2025

His putt on the 18th from 27 feet nearly found the bottom of the cup to round off a deserving win with a glorious birdie, but it didn’t matter. Musimenta, who was introduced to the game as a junior golfer of UGC by his golf-playing father Julius ten years ago, has risen in build and stature in the game and is a certified national team golfer today. His iron-striking is up among the very best while his game management has improved a great deal in recent years.

For his victory, Musimenta will walk away with Shs1.7, while Lulet settles for Shs1.2m. Third-placed Morris Ashaba earned himself Shs900,000. The amateur kitty for the field was Shs5m which will be shared by the top 6.

The Pearl of Africa series were started by Dr Edward Nyatia, the chairman, and golf enthusiast Juliet Anena with the aim of elevating the quality of golf in the country for the professionals and elite amateurs.

Dr Nyatiais already impressed by the response golfers, enthusiasts of the game and well-wishers have given to the inaugural event. “When we hatched the idea, we didn’t know how it would go but we are glad that we have reached here and the sky is the limit,” he remarked.

The UGC leg is the first of the series with Entebbe set to be the next hosts. Lugazi will be the final leg in June, two months before the Uganda Open. The professionals are playing for a kitty of Shs20m while the amateurs will share Shs5m.

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Professionals DAY 3 scoreboard

DRAW FINAL DAY

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