Akena eyes US Amateur and Uganda Open titles in busy golf season

Reigning Uganda Open champion Joseph Reagan Akena gets a chance to sharpen his skills ahead of the Uganda Open when he competes in the US Amateur Championship qualifiers due in Washington next month.

Lugazi Golf and Country Club-bred Akena will play at the PB Dye Golf Club on July 17-19, having qualified on account of being ranked among the best 500 amateur golfers in the world. He will then return to compete in the Uganda Open, on September 3-6 on his home course, where he is always a hard nut to crack.

The man Akena replaced as Uganda Open champion, Godfrey Nsubuga, who is based in the US will also play in the US Amateur Championship qualifiers. He will tee off from July 14-17.

“It will be a dream and an honour to play in this tournament,” Akena said shortly after receiving his visa from the US embassy on Monday. “My golf journey continues to unravel in many unique, interesting ways, and I hope that I can learn one or two things when competing against some of the best golfers in the world in the golf capital that is America,” he added.

The 20-year-old Akena is a national team golfer who was part of the youthful side that dethroned Kenya at the Victoria Cup at Mt Kipipiri Golf Resort in March. He is somewhat saddened that his invitation to the United States will prevent him from participating in the Pearl of Africa Golf Series (POA), which will take place in Lugazi next month. “I would have loved to play in the POA event,” Akena expressed. “But in life, you can’t have your cake and eat it too. I will miss the POA, but I will be there for the Open.”

He thanked the R&A High Performance program and the Uganda Golf Union leadership for the enabling environment that has seen his career soar. Akena is tipped to be the favourite to win the Uganda Open crown, seeing how the tournament will be played on a course where he learned the game and honed his talent. Blessed with a tremendous short game, Akena had a terrific 2024 season in which he won a host of events, the climax of which was the Uganda Open. He prevailed in the Kakira Open, Jinja Open, Lugazi Centenary, Godfrey Nsubuga Invitational, Mbale Open, and Kilelesi competitions.