A record 408 players register for the 72nd Edition of the Tusker Malt Uganda Open

The Uganda Golf Union is pleased to announce that at the closure of the entry and registration process which occurred on Thursday last week (21st August, 2014), 408 players had submitted their entries to compete in the 72nd Edition of the Uganda Open for 2014. Entry and registration was officially closed at 11.59pm by the Union ahead of accreditation and draw preparation. Below is a summary of the entries received at the time of closing:

For the first time, the field will comprise over 100 foreign entrants, most of which are in the pro-am and the professionals category. The Ugandan golfers have also shown significant interest in the tournament by registering in large numbers.

All golf clubs in Uganda are well represented and all so are all East African Golf Federation countries i.e. Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

The professional notables in the field who have submitted entries include Sunshine Tour Players (Alan Michell, Tebogho Sefatsa, Tongoona Charamba, Farahi Chitengwa and Ignatius Mketekete), and a full field of the Kenyan contingent that includes Richard Ainley, Dismas Indiza, Simon Ngige, David Odhiambo and Nicklaus Rokoine. Pro Haile from Ethiopia will participate in the Uganda Open for the first time, while John Kisia will represent Burundi alone. Rwanda will be represented by Erneste Ndayisenga and Emmanuel Ruterana but Baptiste Hakizimana will miss this open away on a tour in the United States. Tanzanians Brayson Nyeza and Rajabu Pembe will look forward to a share of the prize kitty too, appearing in Uganda for the first time. All Ugandan professionals have fully registered for the Open save for Sadi Atibu who will not participate so as to support the tournament technical desk.

In the amateur main event, this Open will be graced by 3 previous winners in Rogers Byaruhanga, Phillip Kasozi and Peter Sendawula, in a mounth watering clash of the top amateurs. The field is further comprised of all national team players who are currently in camp for the East Africa Golf Challenge that tees off next week. Seasoned players like Gideon Kagenzi, Francis Ngabo and Stephen Katwiremu have all registered for the event. Willy Kitata who has been out of the country has registered well in time ahead of the tournament, vowing to start where he left off in the 2012 Open.

The Rwanda national team will all be staying for the Open following registration of all the national team players by Davis Kashaka, on their behalf under the Rwanda Golf Union. Karanja Karubui Junior alongside Herman “Deco” Mutebi will be the youngest players to play in this Open, alongside other junior national team players like Andrew Byaruhanga and Ronald Otile.

The subsidiary category has attracted a full field of golfers that includes senior golfers like Sam Byagagaire, Ivan Koreta and Francis Kazinduki and upcoming golfers like Mukasa Elly, Moses Sebugwawo and Duncan Karugaba to mention but a few.

The Union will now verify the entries, check the handicaps (subsidiary category) and complete the entry approval process. Accreditation will commence on Tuesday 25th August 2014 at the Uganda Golf Club and will involve issue of tournament kits for all players and draw lists. All players are encouraged to collect their accreditation materials early so as to avoid being inconvenienced by late accreditation. The tournament draws for all events will be advertised in the press after finalization by the Union ahead of the tournament.

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