This year’s golf calendar unfolds today with the lucrative MTN/Sony-Ericsson Open and it is said that over 80 golfers are set to flock the greens at Kigali Golf Club. On top of local golfers, Ericsson South Africa has entered six golfers in the one-day tournament.

"The turn-up will definitely be huge considering the fact that we are also expecting about six golfers from South Africa,” the club captain Marcel Byusa said.

Tee-off is at 11am and by short-gun. Following recent rains, the course is in perfect shape and Byusa expects a thrilling contest.

"The course looks good so I expect a good game,” Byusa said.

The lucrative 18-hole tournament has four competitive categories; handicap (0-9), (10-18), (19-28) and ladies. Stroke play is the mode of play for handicap 0-18 while handicap 19-28 and ladies play for stable ford points.

According to the sponsors (MTN), over Frw 6 million has been injected in the tournament that is rolling in its third edition.

At the end of the day, the day’s winners will walk away with a variety of prizes ranging from trophies, T-shirts and caps amongst others.

Last year, Ericsson pulled out of the event sighting bad timing. In last year’s edition, Rajan Tiwari and Steven Katwiremu were crowned champions in the gross and net categories respectively.

Today’s tournament could also be Jean Baptise Hakizimana’s last as an amateur golfer. It is said that the 19-year-old is on the verge of joining the professional ranks courtesy of MTN.

Ends