The Great Rift Valley Golf Resort’s Justus Madoya blasted his way to the top of the leaderboard with an excellent round of six-under-par 65 as the 2021 Tusker Malt Uganda Open golf tournament got underway at the par 71 Entebbe Golf Club course on Wednesday.
Madoya, who won the Entebbe Open at the same course in 2019, dropped two shots at the front nine where he also picked up birdies at the first and second holes and later at the fifth.
It was, however, at the back nine where the birdie-hungry Madoya picked up his first birdie at the 11th, holed a two at the par-four-14th, then wound up the round with birdies at the 15th and 18th, to grab a two shots lead from Zimbabwe's Visitor Mapwanya who had led earlier with a fine score of four under par 67, landed at the top of the leaderboard late in the day.
“The greens are far much better than the last time I played here and I really enjoyed my putting today. I do hope I can maintain this pace until the end,’’ said Madoya who has not been playing well since the season started.
On the other hand, Mapwanya had set the ball rolling despite having dropped a shot in each nine, as the field of 96 players began the four-day journey in hunt for cash prizes and points towards the Magical Kenya Open 2022’’.
He picked up a bogey at the par four-fifth hole which he quickly recovered with a birdie at the 577-yard par-five-seventh to level the front nine.
“ I hit a good driver to the centre of the fairways, just 100m out, but made three-putts. All the same, I am very happy with this round as it helps build the confidence I need to at least win one of these events," said Mapwnya, who hit his approach shot to the top of the green at the 16th, his down-hilly putt missed the target and missed the par.
He, however, made birdies on the 10th, 11th, 13th, and 15th to finish the back nine with a birdie at the 18th for a low 32 and the day’s 67.
This gave him a shot better than defending champion and compatriot Robson Chinhoi who shot three-under-par 68 to tie for second place with Kenya’s Jacob Okello in the opening round of the 120th edition of the Open.
Chinhoi said he is happy with his opening score which he said had given him the confidence he needed at the start of the tournament.
"The course except in a few areas, is playing well and I have a feeling it could easily bring some good scores this year," said Chinhoi who dropped a shot at the fourth and the 13th, but made birdies at the seventh, 10th, 11th, 15th and 16th holes.
Okello on the other hand got off too well, picking a birdie at the par five-first hole and soon after at the second before dropping shots at the fourth and eighth. He, however, made three birdies at the back nine’s 14th, 15th at the home green for the day’s 68.
The leader board
Justus Madoya 65
Visitor Mapwanya(Zim) 67
Robson Chinhoi 68
Jacob Okello 68
Chanda Bwemya 69
Dismas Indiza 69
Abraham Ainamani 69
Philip Kasozi 69
Tony Omulli 69
