RWANDA’S professional golfers Emmanuel Ruterana and Jean Baptiste Hakizimana have their eyes set on the $10,000 (Rwf. 6.7m) cash prize in the 2014 Burundi Golf Open which tees off today at Bujumbura golf club.

Ruterana and Hakizimana have been in Bujumbura since Sunday to prepare for the event which will end on May 3. 

Ruterana is confident of winning the tournament following his second place finish at the Kigezi Easter Golf Open held in Kabale, Uganda two weeks ago.

"It will be a tight challenge for the title but with the experience and confidence gained in Kabale, I am looking to perform even better. I am optimistic of winning top honours in Burundi,” vowed Ruterana.

Ruterana is a four-time Rwanda Open title winner in 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2013, with a perfect score of 154 after making 74 and 74 over the two days at the par 69 Kigezi golf course.

He shared the same position with Ugandan pair of Dennis Anguya and Vincent Byamukama who also ended the two days with an overall score of 154. Opio Onito won the tournament with a score of 139 after making 66 and 73 over the two days. His counterpart Hakizimana goes into the Burundi Open having finished third in last year’s edition. "This year we are more prepared and ready to battle Kenyans who will be our main obstacle in the tournament,” said Hakizimana.

Kenya’s Dismas Indiza is the defending champion.