Kamulindwa comes top at Akope Challenge

David Kamulindwa is a calm, composed golfer who has enjoyed a superb year.

First, he played at his first-ever DP World Tour Magical Open, and despite failing to make the cut, he left Muthaiga a much better player with valuable lessons learned.

It is some of those lessons that helped him hold off a strong field to win the inaugural Deo Akope Challenge at the par-71 Entebbe Golf Club on a rain-soaked Saturday.

Kamulindwa finished with a level-par round of 213 to beat his nearest rival Marvin Kibirige, by three strokes. Kamulindwa and Kibirige were both tied at 143 over two identical, opening rounds of 70 and 73.

The difference was on the deciding day where Kamulindwa finished with a one-under 70 while his challenger holed out with a two-over 73. Kamulindwa and Kibirige have emerged as two of the fastest-improving professional golfers, and it is little surprise that they claimed the top two finishes.

Ronald Otile was third with a total of 217, a stroke better than day one leader Saidi Mawa and Rodell Gaita Tadeo who finished joint fourth.
For Akope, who is a celebrated golfer and chairman of the Uganda Professional Golfers Association, Saturday was a satisfactory day for his cause to the game at grassroots level.

The Entebbe native learnt the game using a cassava stick.

“I want to use my story to tell the young ones where I came from and the path that I took to where I am. I have never dreamt of being where I am right now.

“Using my story, maybe, just maybe, someone along the way will achieve what I wanted to achieve in life.”

Some 211 golfers braved the heavy morning rains to compete. Mark Rubatsimbira was the overall winner with 44 points in the Subsidiary category while Alexander Matsiko, Philip Okanya and Michael Musiime Koima triumphed in Group A, B and C respectively for the men.

In the Ladies category, Rita Apell won Group A while Evelyn Atukunda topped Group B