Flavia Namakula returned 230 gross over three days (54 holes) to win the 63rd edition of the Castle Lite Ladies Golf Open at Kitante on Saturday.
Despite not playing to her best, Namakula beat her closest challengers Entebbe Club’s Irene Nakalembe and Tanzanian Gymkhana Golf Club’s Iddi Madina by six strokes to win her fifth career ladies open trophy and her third in three years; taking it for keeps.
The UPDF Sergeant, who is fresh from a failed professional qualifying stint in South Korea, shot 78, 73 and 79 for an aggregate of 230 to win herself an air ticket to Dubai courtesy of Fly Dubai, a Cleveland golf bag and Huawei P8 phone.
Her score was thirteen and one stroke worse than her 2013 and 2014 victories where she carded 217 and 229 gross respectively.
Namakula carried a three-stroke lead ahead of Tanzania’s Madina, going into the final round but by the sixth hole she had already given away her lead to the Tanzanian, who led the front-nine by one stroke.
A triple bogey on the par 3 hole No.4 followed by bogeys on holes 5 and 6 sent Nanakula in panic mode and was only helped by the fact her opponents were as well under pressure and failed to capitalize on her brief slump.
“I put myself under a lot of pressure on the front nine; it was tough out there but I tried to cool down thereafter, settled and won. Unlike my first two wins the competition has been growing and I thank God that I won despite my golf not being good enough,” Namakula said.
“The course was hard for me having been away for some time; Madina was a tough opponent she challenged me but it was the course that bothered me most; but I also need to work on my short game and approach because it wasn’t up to scratch,” Namakula stated.
“I would like to recognize my mother; thank you for loving me you have been there for me Thank you all the sponsors it has been a great tournament,” Namakula later told guests led by youth Minister Nakiwala Kiyingi who was chief guest at the prize ceremony.
Kenya 19 year old Agnes Nyakio was the third runner-up while Eva Magala finished fifth overall.
The tournament was sponsored by Castle Lite, UAP Insurance, Fly Dubai, Access, Cwezi, DStv, Huawei, MTN, Pinnacle Security, HTC Hub, Old Mutual, Kerusi International and UMA.
Source: Micheal Nsubuga/ New Vision
