2009 EA Golf Challenge

RWANDA opened their East Africa Golf Challenge campaign in style after collecting five and a half points (5 ½ )points on Day One at the par-71 Entebbe Golf Course (EGC).

Rwanda’s captain Joseph Semwaga led the way by beating Kenya’s Patel. Davis Kashaka, one of Rwanda’s most experienced golfers made light work of Tanzania A. Adam on the 10th hole while Olivier Munyaneza finished off another Kenyan Ali Orende on the 14th hole.

Francois Habimana outwit Tanzania’s Mollel, Ernest Ndayisenga pulled off a draw against home boy Emmanuel Opio while Eberhart Thomas, Rwanda’s best player at the just ended Uganda Open choked Burundi’s Juma.

Rwanda two defeats came against Burundi’s Mwafrika and Uganda’s Fred Wanzala but  Kigali Golf Club’s Public Relations Officer and team manager Louis Kamanzi was impressed with the team’s overall display which left them second on the grid behind defending champions Kenya.

Kamanzi said that even after an average outing in the Uganda Open where Rwanda only feature three players in the top twenty, yesterday’s performance typifies the team’s character.
 "We have had a good start in the East African Golf Challenge and hope we can carry on from here.” Thomas emerged as Rwanda’s top player in 6th place after carding 301, 12 strokes shy of overall winner Peter Ssendawula.

Kenya, who have won the last three editions lived up to their ‘hot favourites’ billing as they topped the scoring charts with 6 ½ points.

Since 1999, Kenya has won seven titles while Uganda (2001), Tanzania (2002) and Rwanda (2000) have won one respectively.

Ends