It had to be him. Presently, ‘Mayo’ is unstoppable, playing with a newfound freedom in the aftermath of his Uganda Open victory and four straight wins.
Ronald Rugumayo is perfectly poised to secure a fifth successive crown after a spellbinding round of 64 left him three strokes clear going into the final day.
Rugumayo is hardly doing anything wrong. He is finding fairways, striking delicious approaches, and putting with the ease and comfort of a hot knife through butter.
The only blot on his card was a bogey on the par-3 10th. Having won the Pro Tees with a dominant seven-stroke victory, he will tee off in the main event as the runaway favorite to claim the inaugural POA-SUNDEV tournament.
Rugumayo’s nearest challenger, however, is Nigerian Godwin Okoko, whose chances can’t be written off completely. In fact, Rugumayo, for all his undeniable brilliance, can’t allow any form of complacency to creep in, lest Okoko pounce.
With rounds of 66 and 68, Okoko has the ability and mental fortitude to turn Saturday into a thrilling finale. Also within sight is South African Slade Pickering, some four shots off the pace, and Greg Snow, who is a further stroke adrift.
Both will be trying to play their lowest rounds of the competition while hoping that Rugumayo and Okoko have off days. It is a possibility because of the unpredictable nature of golf, but it is certainly not likely to happen.
With the cut at two-over, there were some fancied names who packed their bags early. Marvin ‘Max’ Kibirige’s indifferent form this season continued with a 76 that cost him the cut by a stroke. He exited alongside Sunday Olapade and day-one leader Emma Ogwang, who shot a nine-over 80.
Saturday’s final round, which will include a subsidiary event, will climax with highly billed festivities at the POA-SUNDEV Fun Village.
