DAY 4-LEADERBOARD G. Ayella 75 70 74 69 288B. Toolit 76 76 73 66 291J. Baptiste 82 78 68 72 300D. Onyango 76 77 71 76 300 Rwanda’s amateur ace Jean Baptist Hakizimana could be handed a six-month probation stint in the paid ranks after a spirited effort in the four-day Uganda Professional Golfers Association (UPGA) qualification tournament that climaxed on Thursday. The MTN sponsored golfer shot 72 on the final day, to finish two shots over the cut. His day four score left him with an aggregate score of 300, two over the required score (298). Uganda’s Dennis Onyango is the other golfer to prove his worth in the probation stint after leveling with Hakizimana following an inconsistent round of 76 on the final day. UPGA captain Deo Akope is quoted in a Ugandan newspaper saying that that the association is going to meet and most likely give Onyango and Baptiste a six-month probation period to prove they have the quality to play in professional ranks. “If they fail to satisfy us during the six months, then we will request them to wait for other trials next year,” said Akope. Meanwhile, Gerald Ayella and Brian Toolit are the latest golfers to join the UPGA. Ayella wrapped up the qualifiers with an awesome round of three under-par 69 to finish with an aggregate of 288 while Toolit finished on 291 after returning day four’s best score of six under-par 66. Vincent Byamukama, Innocent Opio, George Olayo, Eric Nyankori and Maurice Ongwech will have to wait for next year’s trials. Ends
