Round three of the 2023 Johnnie Walker Uganda Professional Golf Open intensified at the Uganda Golf Club in Kitante as Ronald Rugumayo solidified his position leading into the fourth and final round of the tournament. After a challenging 54 holes, Rugumayo stands at 9-under with a gross score of 207, carrying a narrow one-shot lead into the last day of the stroke-play championship.
Close behind in second place on the leaderboard is 19-year-old Kenyan Njoroge Kibugu, who has showcased remarkable consistency with rounds of 70, 69, and 69, accumulating a total of 208 (-8). Kibugu, a member of the Muthaiga golf club, will be aiming for a strong finish on the final day.
Meanwhile, Rwanda’s Celestin Nsanzuwera played level par (72) in the third round, holding onto the third position among the top contenders. He knows it will be all to play for as the tournament reaches its conclusion with one round left to play.
Rugumayo played a steady 1-under 71, including three birdies and two bogeys, and he will be looking to replicate his best round finish, a 5-under 67 on day one, as he closes in on becoming the first Ugandan to win the Open since Dec Akope in 2014.
The stage is now set for a grand finish with the top four all in the same pressure group, teeing off at 11:40 am. The other pressure group will feature Namibian Paulino Kasoma, Uganda’s Marvin Kibirige, and Kenya’s Dismas Indiza. Indiza has clinched the professional open title in Uganda on multiple occasions (2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2018).
The tournament boasts participation from over 100 professional golfers from Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, Nigeria, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. The championship offers an impressive total prize purse of Ugx 100,000,000.
