RWANDA’S NUMBER two professional golfer, Emmanuel Ruterana has vowed to make a successful defense of his Rwanda Open title. This year’s tournament is scheduled to run from July 2-6 at Kigali golf course in Nyarutarama.

The 32-year-old Ruterana has won the country’s most prestigious golf event three times, including last year’s event.

Similar to past tournaments, this year’s edition will include amateur and professional categories. The competition is set to attract over one hundred players including East African elite golfers from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Burundi.

"As the defending champion, my goal is to retain the title. I have already started preparations and everything is going well,” former number one Ruterana told Times Sport on Sunday.

Last year, Ruterana won the four-day tournament with a total score of 280, four shots ahead of Rwanda’s number one, Jean Baptiste Hakizimana, while Ernest Ndayisenga, the country’s number three, finished third with 291.

In the amateurs category, Aphrodis Nyirinkwaya claimed the title, Uganda’s Willy Kitata finished second while Celestin Habineza finished third.