Indiza bags fifth Uganda Open title
What you need to know:
Indiza, a four times winner of the 77th year old Open, who dropped an early shot at the second hole, made two birdies at the eighth and 11th, to increase his lead to seven from Snow
However a bogey at the 16th and a double coming just with a hole to go, saw him finish on two over par 73 for an all rounds total of 10 under par 274, to take the first prize of Sh1.06 million (Ugandan shillings 41,000,000)
With the Uganda Open now out of the way, the focus particularly for the Kenyans now shifts to this year’s Prime Bank Diani Beach Masters at the par 72 Leisure Lodge Beach and Golf Resort in Diani next week
Dismas Indiza is the 2018 Castle Lite Uganda Open Champion.
Despite a late double bogey at the par four 17th, Kenya’s long hitting Dismas Indiza still managed to beat compatriot Greg Snow by four shots, to claim the title at the par 71 Entebbe Golf Club course on Saturday.
Indiza, a four times winner of the 77th year old Open, dropped an early shot at the second hole then made two birdies at the eighth and 11th, to increase his lead to seven from Snow. The 2018 title is his fifth after his previous wins in 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2012.
However a bogey at the 16th and a double coming just with a hole to go, saw him finish on two over par 73 for an all rounds total of 10 under par 274, to take the first prize of Sh1.06 million (Ugandan shillings 41,000,000).
Snow, from Muthaiga Golf Club, gave everything he had for the day though he made a slow start, picking up a double at the fourth hole which was followed by a single one at the sixth after recovering one at the fifth.
He moved to seven under at the start of the back nine with birdies coming at the 10th and 12th but he picked up two successive birdies at the 16th and 17th though he finished off with a birdie at the 18th for six under par 278, to complete a 1-2 finish for Kenya .
It was a tough day for the surviving 35 players as only one of them Uganda’s Dennis Anguyo managed an under par (70) which saw him tying fourth with another Ugandan Happy Robert on one under par total of 283, just a shot adrift from third placed John Moore of Nkana Golf Club, Zambia who carded one over par 72 for two under par 282.
Anguyo picked up a total of five birdies but against four bogeys while Robert who had played well in the third round, picked up five bogeys with only two birdies to count for the day which could only give him a final round score of three over par 74 to also wind up on 283.
The Zambian pro Moore made birdies on the first, eighth, 13th and the last hole (18th). He however made a double bogey with a hole to go, having dropped shots at the ninth and 10th in addition to an earlier one at the third hole.
This year’s tournament, which started with the ladies edition two weeks ago followed by the leading amateurs last week, attracted a field of 98 players from Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Tanzania where only 35 players including the winner of the amateur event Ronald Otile made the second round cut.
With the Uganda Open now out of the way, the focus particularly for the Kenyans now shifts to this year’s Prime Bank Diani Beach Masters at the par 72 Leisure Lodge Beach and Golf Resort in Diani next week.
The final leaderboard;
274 Dismas Indiza (KEN) 68, 65, 68, 73
278 Greg Snow (KEN) 69, 68, 69, 72
282 Dyne John Moore (ZAM) 69, 67, 74, 72
283 Dennis Anguyo (UG) 70, 74, 69, 70
283 Happy Robert (UG) 72, 69, 68, 74
285 Madalitso Muthiya (ZAM) 76, 66, 66, 77
286 Stephen Ferreira (ZIM) 73, 70, 72, 71
288 Robson Chinhoi (ZIM) 69, 73, 72, 74
288 Simon Ngige (KEN) 70, 69, 75, 74.
