Kenya’s Adel Balala is known to be one of the longest hitters in the region but yesterday, he had to demonstrate restraint in his game plan in order to return the clubhouse leading score of 69 at the par-71 Entebbe Golf Club in the Uganda Golf Open Championship.
After hitting his driver into the woods on the opening hole, Balala played out to the fairway and scrambled a hard par.
From then on, he dropped the driver and used the 2iron all through. The Nyali-based golfer enjoyed good control of his game with the 2iron.
But he was also aided by a razor-sharp putter that found the bottom of the cup on the second, fourth and 17th hole.
Balala’s competition
Chasing Balala on Thursday will be Abdul Kakeeto (70), Joseph Cwinya-ai (72) and the trio of Joseph Reagan Akena, Titus Okwong and Samuel Bazaale (all 73).
2021 champion Cwinya-ai was satisfied with his round despite playing a bogey on the 18th, which denied him finishing the day level.
“The pin placements were not easy but tomorrow is another day,” Cwinya-ai remarked. “I cant believe that I played 18 holes and only got one birdie.”
Former champion Andrew Ssekibejja has day one to forget. He played four straight double-bogeys in a row on the front nine to all but end his hopes of lifting the title.
“I don’t know what happened to me,” Ssekibejja said. “Nothing seemed to be working for me.”
US-based Godfrey Nsubuga played a poor round of 82 and is now chasing 13 strokes on Balala which is an achievable target by his standards.
The Entebbe course has been dry for sometime and as a result, golfers whose approach shots don’t find the green are finding it hard to score.
Its also key to note that this year’s Open is the first in history in which Amateurs will be rewarded with money.
There is a kitty of Shs15m to be shared among the top 10. The overall winner will walk away with the lion’s share of the kitty, which is Shs3.8m.
Courtesy Photos
