Rwanda clinches bronze in regional Golf Challenge

RWANDA clinched a bronze medal at the 16th edition of the East African Golf Challenge which climaxed on Sunday at the par-71 Entebbe Golf Club, Uganda.

Monday, September 01, 2014
Rwanda team pose for a photo before the start of the three-day East Africa Golf Challenge trophy held in Entebbe over the weekend. (Courtesy photo)

Day 1: Kenya (6.5), Uganda (5.5), Tanzania (4), Rwanda (4), Burundi (2)

Day 2: Uganda (3.5), Rwanda (3), Kenya (2.5), Ethiopia (2), Tanzania (1), Burundi (2)

Day 3: Uganda (6.5), Kenya (5.5), Rwanda (4.5), Tanzania (3), Burundi (2) and Ethiopia (2) 

Final Team Standings:

1. Uganda 18.5 Points

2. Kenya 17.5 Points

3. Rwanda 13.5 Points

4. Tanzania 10 Points

5. Ethiopia 7 Points

6. Burundi 5 Points 

RWANDA clinched a bronze medal at the 16th edition of the East African Golf Challenge which climaxed on Sunday at the par-71 Entebbe Golf Club, Uganda.

Rwanda comprised of nine players namely; Aloys Nsabimana, James Ndikumana, Joseph Barame, Emmanuel Rutayisire, Aphrodis Nyirinkwaya, Jules Mutesa, Augustin Habineza, Leonard Nkurunziza and Francois Habimana.

Rwanda collected 13.5 points to finish behind Uganda and Kenya. It is an improvement from last year’s fourth-place finish for team Rwanda.

Uganda dethroned Kenya to become the regional champions after collecting 18.5 points. Kenya ended with 17.5 points.

It was Rwanda’s Francois Habimana, who helped Uganda clinch the title after beating Kenya’s Tahir Mohamed in one of the matches of the final day.

His win was received with loud cheers by the Ugandan fans, who braved the rain to follow proceedings.

Rwanda started the tournament by snatching  four points on day one but bounced back to second position in the second round with three points, only half a point behind leaders Uganda.

However, Emmanuel Ruterana’s team was relegated to third spot in the final round with 4.5 points by Kenya, who improved to second with 5.5 points as Uganda collected 6.5 points to amass a total of 13.5 points.

The East Africa Golf Challenge event remains one of the most prestigious golf competitions in the region. It was first played in 1999 in Kenya and it involves all East Africa Community members.

Rwanda will host the 17th edition at Kigali Golf Club in Nyarutarama next year.