Uganda finishes fourth at Africa Region IV Junior Team Championship in Mauritius

Team Uganda’s young golfers finished fourth at the Africa Region IV Junior Team Championship in Mauritius, posting a combined score of +109 over 54 holes, 81 shots behind the winners, Reunion.

Despite the result, Banza Matsiko, Shaka Kariisa, Keisha Wiltshire Kagoro, and Elizabeth Danelle Kawalya gained valuable experience.

 Notably, both the boys and girls recorded identical scores on the final day, with Kagoro and Kariisa each scoring 84 and Matsiko and Kawalya each scoring 90. Most importantly, the experience at Tamarina Golf and Spa Resort will contribute significantly to their development.

The national team coach Flavia Namakula admitted that the going had been tough in Mauritius. “I can say that it is not what everyone wanted for the kids,” she noted. “But what is useful to note is that lessons were learnt. Right now, we are building for the future and the lessons from Tamarina will stand us in good stead.”

Namakula is convinced all four golfers won’t leave Mauritius the same. “I am certain they will know how to approach tournaments and how to manage pressure. The biggest positive I can single out is that the team is very young and their better days are clearly ahead,” the professional golfer and national team coach added.

For Namakula, the positives can only be realized after sustained, dedicated and deliberate effort to become better. “We shall need to have some good time with the kids to understand them well to see how we can improve them. While the performance wasn’t good, we know that the boys will learn from their mistakes and seek to do better. All team members thankfully acknowledge that they didn’t play well.” 

Reunion emerged best with a total of +28 with Kenya finishing as runners up at +59. Mauritius ended their campaign with +85 while Uganda was fourth at +109. Tanzania and Madagascar occupied the last two slots with scores of +141 and +153 respectively. 

Meanwhile Melliyal Schmitt of Reunion was the most outstanding individual of the tournament with scores of 67, 70 & 72. Besides Namakula, the team was also represented by the President of the Africa Golf Confederation Johnson Omollo. UGU president Jackson Were emphasizes that continued participation of Uganda’s top young golfers in tournaments such as the Africa Region IV Championship is essential for raising the country’s golf profile and recognition by the R&A.