Tanzanian golfer Iddy Hussein Madina clinched her first Uganda Ladies Golf Open title at the 2024 Johnnie Walker Uganda Ladies Golf Open.
After decades of attempting to secure the championship, Madina’s perseverance finally paid off in an unforgettable final day display that saw her edge out fierce competition to take the trophy home.
Starting the final round with a one-stroke deficit behind Uganda’s Martha Babirye, Madina was among a trio of Tanzanian golfers vying for the title.
Babirye, the three-time champion, appeared to be in control as she teed off at the 15th hole. However, the intense pressure of the competition began to take its toll.
Babirye’s misfortunes began on the 15th hole, where an out-of-bounds second shot led to a triple-bogey.
As the tension mounted, she bogeyed the 16th hole and suffered another triple-bogey on the notoriously challenging 17th hole, known as the Deo Akope Hole.
The final hole summed up Babirye’s struggles, as she four-putted to end the tournament with an 80, bringing her total score to 232.
While Babirye faltered, another Tanzanian Hawa Wanyeche appeared poised to claim victory.
With a one-stroke lead heading into the final hole, Wanyeche needed only to match Madina’s performance to secure the title.
However, a miscalculated third shot left Wanyeche in a precarious position, and she ultimately carded an 8 on the 18th hole, allowing Madina to seize the opportunity.
Madina played a composed approach shot to the center of the green, setting up two steady putts to secure her victory.
Her final round score of 74 brought her total to 228, enough to claim the title by two strokes over Wanyeche, who finished with a total score of 230.
Babirye and Tanzanian, Neema Olomi, tied for third place with scores of 232.
“This is a great feeling,” Madina exclaimed after holing out on the par-5 18th. “I had always wanted to win the Uganda Ladies Golf Open, and it has finally come. I thank my entire team, management, caddie, and country-mates for their support.”
Madina’s victory at the Entebbe Club adds to Tanzania’s growing reputation as a powerhouse in East African women’s golf.
Following in the footsteps of her compatriot Neema Olomi, who won the title at the same course in 2018, Madina’s win underscores the strength and depth of Tanzanian female golfers.
The tournament also featured standout performances from other players.
Tanzanian Aalaa Riyaz Somji lit up the course with a hole-in-one on the par-3 6th hole, while Ghana’s Aileen Contey claimed the ladies bronze category with a nett score of 137.
Uganda’s Charity Atuhaire and Ruth Akello shared the second position in the bronze category with nett scores of 138.
