First round leaderboard:

Pros: (Gross)

JB Hakizimana 72E. Ruterana 74D. Ndiza 74D. Anguyo 76E. Ndayisaba 77AmateursR. Rugumayo 74C. Nsanzuwera 76E. Rutayisire 77H. Robert 77A. Muhumuza 78

Defending champion Jean Baptiste Hakizimana scored 77 gross to take a two-shot lead in the opening round of the Rwanda Open on Wednesday at the Par-72 Kigali Golf Course, Nyarutarama.

The two-time champion and Rwanda’s number one leads a strong field that includes, among others, his local rivals Emmanuel Ruterana (74) and Ernest Ndayisaba (77) as well as Kenya’s Dimas Ndiza (74) and Ugandans Denis Anguyo (76) and Amos Kamya (78).

In the Amateurs’ category, Ronald Rugumayo finished first with 74 gross, two shots better than debutant Celestin Nsanzuwere (76), a senior two student while defending champion, Emmanuel Rutayisire is three shots off the lead.

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