RWANDA’S PROFESSIONAL golfers Emmanuel Ruterana and Ernest Ndayisenga start their quest for honours at the prestigious Tusker Malt Uganda Golf Open championship which tees off today at the 71 Kitante course at the Uganda Golf Club. 

Ruterana and Ndayisenga are Rwanda’s representatives in the professional category after the Pro-Am event which was played yesterday. 

The tournament’s official practice session was conducted on Monday with the Pro-Am teeing off on Tuesday ahead of round one kickoff today. 

Ruterana, the first runner-up at the 2011 edition, had successful training in August in Rwanda, before training at Kitante course greens last week as he guided the national amateur team to a third place finish in the East Africa Golf Challenge in Entebbe, Uganda. 

Alongside Ndayisenga, the country’s number three, the Rwandan duo will have to work hard as they hunt for a top three spot on the leader board. 

Ruterana believes the presence of elite players is no major concern. "I know how the elite golfers who will be taking part in this tournament play. They are good but, based on the training I’ve had, I am targeting finishing the championship in the medal bracket. 

"What matters now is to concentrate. I trained on the course and am confident on achieving my target of winning the championship,” he said.

"I understand there are some changes in the holes. My physical fitness is excellent and I will only be focused on negotiating the different holes which make up the course,” Ruterana stated. 

Other elite African golfers at the tournament include South Africa’s Tebogho Sefatsa, Tanzania’s ace Elias Nyenza, Zimbabwe’s Tongoona Charamba, Zambia’s Muthiya Madalitso, Kenyan pros Anil Shah, John Wangai, Sullvian Muthaiga, James Lorum and Dismas Ndiza, as well as several Ugandan elite golfers including Team Uganda head coach Amos Kamya, Deo Akope, Silver Opio, Opio Onito and Denis Anguyo.

The pros will play for Ugandan Shs100 million (about Rwf26m), courtesy of Tusker Malt lager.