OUT of form Jean Baptiste Hakizimana will be hoping for lady luck when he takes to the greens this morning in the prestigious Uganda Open.

The ace golfer is without a major win in ten months and is on the back of his worst professional showing since 2008 when he joined the paid ranks.

"For the past year, I haven’t been doing that great and maybe people think that I may not win this one again.”

"So in that respect maybe that’s why I am flying under the radar,” he added.

After yesterday’s practice round, Hakizimana, who won last year’s edition, had his reservations about the weather.

"It’s going to be tricky. The greens are inconsistent because of the rains,” Hakizimana said of the Par-72 Kitante Golf Course.

The 25-year-old is part of a three-man Rwandan contingent which also includes Ernest Ndayisenga and the experienced Emmanuel Ruterana.

Hakizimana will tee off at 10:00am, twenty minutes earlier than Ruterana.

Over the next four days, a strong field of 45 professionals from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Zimbabwe and Ireland will be grappling for a share of the Rwf11m.

One golfer who has given everything in the build up to the tournament is Ugandan ace Deo Akope.

"It’s not only about practicing on the course. I have to jog and work out in the gym to maintain high fitness levels. The Uganda Open is certainly going to be tough and I have to give it my best in terms of preparation and actual competition,” Akope was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, Léon Nkurunziza, Celestin Habineza, Paul Uwitonze and Jules Mutesa will compete in the amateurs’ category.

Ends