Godfrey Nsubuga started like a house on fire as the 82nd edition of the Johnnie Walker Uganda Amateur Golf Open teed off this morning at the par 72 Uganda Golf Club in Kitante. Playing at his home club, the scratch golfer almost shot a bogey-free round, managing six birdies and an eagle on the 13th hole to bring back an impressive score of 7 under 65 after round one, just two shots off the course record. He will go into day two as a firm favorite, five shots in the lead.
“Everything worked in my favor today, from the driving to the putting. I had a terrible tee shot at 17, but I managed to get my head back into the game and finish strong,” Nsubuga said.
Ibrahim Bagalana tried to mount a challenge, returning a respectable score of 2 under 70 to ensure that the leader was well within reach. He recorded three birdies and one bogey after 18 holes.
The main disappointment of the day was reigning champion Andrew Sekibejja, who was 10 over 82, seventeen shots adrift. He will have his work cut out as he tries to work his way up the leaderboard. The 2022 champion attributed his slow start to not getting the perfect tee shot.
“I struggled to find my rhythm early on, and that made it difficult for me to get going. But I’m still confident I can play much better going into the next three rounds.”
Peter Tumusiime and Joseph Kalonera were tied for third on level par, with 2021 winner Joseph Cwinyaai 8 strokes off the lead after shooting one over 72.
This year’s event has been graced by golfers from Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania. The 82nd Johnnie Walker Uganda Amateur Open continues to receive generous support from sponsors, including Crown Beverages Limited (Aquafina), National Council of Sports (NCS), Absa Bank, NBS Sport, Medipal, Pinnacle Security Limited, CASE Medical Services, Orchard Interiors, HH, Uganda Golf Club, and title sponsors Johnnie Walker.
