Madoya maintains good form to lift Uganda Open title

Great Rift Valley Golf Resort's Jastas Madoya, is the Uganda Open Golf Champion.

Madoya who re-captured his lead during Friday’s third round, completed a four rounds total of 13 under par 271 to win his first event of the 2021 Safari Tour, at the par 71 Entebbe Golf Club course.

It was however a close encounter with Mumias' pro Dismas Indiza and round two leader Robson Chinhoi of Zimbabwe who went to the Uganda Open as the defending champion.

 “I usually focus more on my game and the course than those I am playing with,’’ said Madoya after posting one over par 72 in the closing round which included two bogeys at the front nine and three at the back nine with an eagle at the long par five-seventh and two birdies at the 14th and 15th holes.

“I am extremely happy winning this event with a better score than the Entebbe Open three years ago where I won with eight under par. The few events we played at Vet Lab and Thika just before we came to Uganda really helped me to gauge my form. However the small put I missed at the 12th made me realize that I could easily loose the event, that is what made me work hard for the two birdies at the back nine," said Madoya who won Ugsh 22.5 million, and who won by five shots from Indiza who, like Madoya, shot one over par 72 for a total of eight under par 278.

“The pin positions were tough today and that tells why there are few under par scores in this final round. All the same I am very happy finishing second against such a strong field of young players,’’ said Indiza who bogeyed the second hole though he recovered one at the fourth only to drop a shot at the sixth.

“I must admit that this course is currently in an excellent condition than I have seen it before. It offered one a chance to score low if one stays on course,’’ said Indiza who finished with two back to back bogeys.

Meanwhile Chinhoi posted two over par 73 for an all rounds total of six under par 278. He blamed poor putting in the final round particularly at the back nine.

“I was striking the ball fairly well and gave myself many chances of picking up birdies but, did not putt well," said Chinhoi who started with a birdie at the first nine though he made a double at the par three-10th and later bogeyed the 15th and 17th.

A total of 96 payers had entered in the event with 33 surviving the second round cut to continue with the tournament which is part of the Safari Tour.

The final Leader board;

Justus Madoya(Ken) 65, 68, 66, 72= 271

Dismas Indiza (Ken) 69, 69, 66, 72= 276

Robson Chinhoi (Zim) 68, 6473, 73= 278

Ronald Rugumayo (Ug) 72, 68, 66, 73= 279

Visitor Mapwanya(Zim) 67, 69, 70, 75= 281

Sydney Wemba(Zam) 74, 68, 72, 69= 283

Samuel Njoroge(Ken)71, 74, 74, 65= 284

Erick Ooko(Ken) 72, 73, 70, 71=286

Paul Chidale (Maw) 72, 71, 72, 72= 287

Silver Opio (Ug) 70, 71, 74, 72= 287

Deo Akope (Ug) 72, 68, 71, 76= 287.