Byamukama gets a head start after winning Absa Pro-Am tournament

Entebbe Club professional golfer Vincent Byamukama shot four-under 67 to inspire the MTN MOMO-4 team to the Uganda Open Golf Championship Absa Pro-Am tournament victory at the Lugazi Hills Golf and Country Club on Tuesday.

Byamukama combined with amateurs Ronald Pulle, Herbert Musinguzi, and Peace Hellen for a total of 114 stable ford points to top the Pro-Am that attracted 42 teams of four players each.

The Absa-8 team, comprising professional Joshua Seale, Josephine Njoroge, Dan Twebaze and Joshua Odongo came second having amassed 107 points while the MTM MOMO-2 with Zimbabwe pro Tatenda Makunde came third having been beaten on count-back after they also amassed 107 points.

Byamukama will consequently start the Johnnie Walker Uganda Open Professionals event sh3.5m richer while naturalised Ugandan Joshua Seale picked a sh2.5m cash prize as Makunde pocketed sh2m.

But the biggest celebrants were the top ten amateur golfers who will enjoy an-all expense paid trip to play in next year’s DP Tour’s Magical Kenya Open courtesy of Absa.

The winners include Kenneth Tumusiime, Darwin Angundri, Joshua Odongo, Hellen Lunkuse, Alex Wandera, Ronald Pulle, Beth Alexis Kariuki, Kenneth Baija, Jerry Owachi, and James Abiria. But whereas the top five are already assured, the other five will only make the trip if the top five professionals who also made it through Saturday’s event fail to qualify for the DP Tour Magical Kenya Open qualifiers.

The five pros include Tafadzwa Nyamukondiwa, Vincent Byamukama, Silver Opio, Joshua Seale and Celestine Nsanzuwera who must qualify for the European Tour Event in order to enjoy the Absa sponsorship.

For Pulle, the 39 points he registered on the day was the best he has ever produced on the Lugazi course.

“Three pars on the opening three holes was beautiful and that is the best score I have ever played on this course. I have never played below 90 on this course but today I beat myself with the 87 I returned. Lugazi is an easy course if you play every day, if you just come it will teach you but it is a very beautiful course,” Pulle said.

“I have played all the Uganda Open subsidiary events and that has helped me a lot,”

For Musinguzi the course was reasonably hard and challenging but he hopes to improve with time. “I played the seniors and won a gorilla trekking permit and also played the ladies and didn’t win but here I am,” Herbert Musinguzi noted.

For pro Bymukama, who carded 40 points, it was straightforward:“Put your ball on the fairway and then the green and putt.”

The event was spiced up by a hole-in-one notched by Ernest Wasake, who achieved the rare feat on the par-3 hole 3. Using a Titleist 8-iron and a Titleist-4 Red ball, the former Big Brother Contestant drove his ball with precision before it bounced once and rolled into the cup for his first career ace.

“I'm excited. It is my first and coming during the Uganda Open where they don't come easy, is great,” Wasake said. The feat earned him 100kgs of Sugar from the Lugazi Hills Golf Course management and a bottle of Johnnie Walker.

This was the second ace in the series of events following Ntumwa’s achieved during the amateurs open at the same venue last week.

Addressing the golfers at the prize ceremony, David Wandera, Managing Director of Absa Bank Uganda, pledged continued support for the development of local golfing talent.

“We believe in the power of sports to unite communities and inspire individuals. By investing in events like this, we aim to encourage the spirit of healthy competition and provide a platform for local talent to thrive. The Uganda Golf Open, one of the country’s most anticipated golf tournaments, is renowned for its rich tradition and high-level competition. Our sponsorship is intended to elevate the tournament’s standards, attract more top-tier players, and provide an enhanced experience for both participants and spectators.” Wandera stated.

The Pro-Am Tournament, now in its seventh consecutive year of sponsorship by Absa Bank Uganda, is a one-day competition that pairs professional and amateur golfers.

For professionals, it serves as an extra practice round ahead of the Professionals Open, while amateurs gain the rare opportunity to sharpen their skills, test themselves in a competitive environment, and learn from experienced players.