The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
🔴 LEADERBOARD Uganda Golf ⛳ Open after 54 holes
✳ JR Akena 🇺🇬 73 73 71 | 217 | +4
✳ J Cwinyaai 🇺🇬 72 73 73 | 218 | +5
✳ T. Okwong 🇺🇬 73 77 68 | 218 | +5
✳ Kakeeto 🇺🇬 70 78 74 | 222 | +9
✳ Tumusiime 🇺🇬74 74 75 | 223 | +10
Entebbe, Uganda | LOUIS JADWONG | One year after Joseph Reagan Akena came into the limelight after hitting a hole-in-one at the All Africa Junior Golf Championship Uganda hosted, he is back — seeking more.
The 19-year-old Lugazi Hills Country Club golfer carded a par 71 score today at Entebbe Golf Club to move into pole position in the Johnnie Walker Uganda Amateur Golf Open, with 18 holes remaining.
After a shaky first 9 holes on day 3, Akena charged into the lead with a perfect back 9 for a total 217 strokes over 54 holes. He takes a one stroke lead over former champion and still favourite Joseph Cwinya-ai, and Titus Okwong. Okwong produced a stunning 3-under par performance Friday, to move into contention, while Cwinya-ai ensured he remains in the pressure group with a steady 73.
Akena’s lead with 13 bogeys over the 54 holes might indicate the state of the field, and, whoever matches par on the final day now likely to take it all at this 83rd Uganda Amateur Golf Open.
Keen golfers and course marshals will also expect a faster pace of play, as the pressure group reached hole 18 close to darkness despite teeing off early after noon.
Meanwhile, defending champion Godfrey Nsubuga is at +13, well off the pace with 18 holes to play.
Last year, Nsubuga led from start to finish, as he secured his first Uganda Open golf title with a record score 275 strokes (13-under-par) at the UGC course at Kitante.
Johnnie Walker is the headline sponsor of this 83rd Amateur Open that has attracted players from Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, South Sudan and Rwanda. The 2023 Johnnie Walker Uganda Open will return next week with the Pro-Am and the Professionals Open, concluding an exciting chapter of this year’s tournament.
The Uganda Open series of competitions started last week, with Iddy Hussein Madina winning arguably the most dramatic Johnnie Walker Uganda Ladies Golf Open title in memory. She recovered from playing a wrong ball on no.11 to claw her way back to the top after an inexplicable capitulation by Martha Babirye and Hawa Wanyeche.
LIVE SCORES/SCOREBOARD (click)
Uganda Amateur Golf Open Winners since 1932
1932 – H.Davidson (Uganda Golf Club)
1933 – H.Davidson (Uganda Golf Club)
1934 – R.W Hooker (Muthaiga Golf Club)
1935 – J.D Rankine (Uganda Golf Club)
1936 – J.D Rankine (Uganda Golf Clun)
1937 – H. Davidson (Uganda Golf Club)
1938 – R.W Bun (Mombasa Golf Club)
1939 – J.E Higginson
1940 – 1947 NOT HELD
1948 – D. F Stewart (Uganda Golf Club)
1949 – A.Q Roberts (Kitale Golf Club)
1950 – N.C Elwell (Uganda Golf Club)
1951 – N.C Elwell (Mwanza Golf Club)
1952 – J.R Cooke (Uganda Golf Club)
1953 – R.W Hooper (Nairobi Golf Club)
1954 – M.Johnson (Kabalae Golf Club)
1955 – J.R Oglive (Kitale Golf Club)
1956 – J.R Oglive (Kitale Golf Club)
1957 – Ian McAdam (Uganda Golf Club)
1958 – Brian Malone (Uganda Golf Club)
1959 – Ian McAdam (Uganda Golf Club)
1960 – Mike Johnson (Mbale Golf Club)
1961 – Mike Johnson (Mbale Golf Club)
1962 – Mike Johnson (Mbale Golf Club)
1963 – John Higginson (Uganda Golf Club)
1964 – John Higginson (Uganda Golf Club)
1965 – Muhammed Rajab (Nairobi Golf Club)
1966 – John Higginson (Uganda Golf Club)
1967 – I.Pattinson (Dar es Salaam Golf Club)
1968 – G.Burrows (Uganda Golf Club)
1969 – M.Rajab(Nairobi Golf Club)
1970 – M.Couma (Uganda Golf Club)
1971 – J. Kahugu (Sigona Golf Club)
1972 – Ben Okello (Masaka Golf Club)
1973 – Tom Taban (Uganda Golf Club)
1974 – Alex Okodan (Uganda Golf Club)
1975 – Ramathan Kayamba (Uganda Golf Club)
1976 – Sadi Onito (Jinja Golf Club)
1977 – Sadi Onito (Jinja Golf Club)
1978 – Sadi Onito (Jinja Golf Club)
1979 – 1980 – Not held
1981 – Juma Jaffer (Uganda Golf Club)
1982 – Juma Jaffer (Uganda Golf Club)
1983 – Sadi Onito (Uganda Golf Club)
1984 – John Mucheru (Uganda Golf Club)
1985 – Sadi Onito (Jinja Golf Club)
1986 – Sadi Onito (Jinja Golf Club)
1987 – Sadi Onito (Jinja Golf Club)
1988 – Sadi Onito (Jinja Golf Club)
1989 – Allan Njoroge (Muthaiga Golf Club)
1990- Dedan Kagonyera (Kabale Golf Club)
1991 – Sadi Onito (Jinja Golf Club)
1992 – Juma Jaffer (Uganda Golf Club)
1993 – John Gavin (Uganda Golf Club)
1994 – Sadi Onito (Jinja Golf Club)
1995 – Sadi Onito (Jinja Golf Club)
1996 – Sadi Onito (Jinja Golf Club)
1997 – Steven Birungi (Uganda Golf Club)
1998 – Steven Birungi (Uganda Golf Club)
1999 – Steven Birungi (Uganda Golf Club)
2000 – Deo Akope (Entebbe Golf Club)
2001 – Deo Akope (Entebbe Golf Club)
2002 – Deo Akope (Entebbe Golf Club)
2003 – Charles Yokwe (Jinja Golf Club)
2004 – David Odhiambo (Nyanza Golf Club)
2005 – Charles Yokwe (Jinja Golf Club)
2006 – Amos Kamya (Entebbe Golf Club)
2007 – Nicholas Rokoine (Muthaiga Golf Club)
2008 – George Olayo (Entebbe Golf Club)
2009 – Peter Ssendaula (Entebbe Golf Club)
2010 – Brian Mwesigwa (Kabale Golf Club)
2011 –Rogers Byaruhanga (Uganda Golf Club)
2012 – Phillip Kasozi (Uganda Golf Club)
2013 – Peter Ssendaula (Entebbe Golf Club)
2014 – Kitata (Entebbe Golf Club)
2015 – Ronald Otile (Tooro Golf Club)
2016 – Ronald Otile (Tooro Golf Club)
2017 – Ronald Rugumayo (Tooro Golf Club)
2018 – Ronald Otile (Tooro Golf Club)
2019 – Daniel Nduva (Nyali Golf and Country Club)
2020 – John Lejirma (Kenya Railway Golf Club)
2021 – Joseph Cwinya-ai (Tooro Golf Club)
2022 – Andrew Ssekibejja (Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort and Spa Club)
2023 – Godfrey Nsubuga ( Mehta club)
2024 – …………….
