The long-awaited 2021 ‘Piga Mingi’ (PMC) golf amateur league kicked off over the weekend with nearly 100 golfers taking part in the competition which was held simultaneously at the Falcon Golf and Country Club in Rwamagana and Kigali Golf club.

The players were pooled in eight groups of 12 to 13 players each, after a total of 98 players registered for this year’s league edition. Participants had to adhere to Covid-19 guidelines.

According to the league format, players from each group will be playing against each other and fight to lead the group table.

The top two who accumulate most points in each group will proceed to the playoffs.

Saturday’s opening fixtures saw a number of golfers starting the league on an impressive note with excellent performances from various groups.

Some notable fixtures that caused excitement include remarkable wins for Gregory Gaga who, in the men’s category 1 Handicap 1-9, Kennedy Mirichu beat seasoned golfers’ P Cesco and Innocent Rutamu and his brother Paul Ntaganda.

Gaga has been playing for only one year but that did not stop him from finishing as the winner of men’s category 2 Handicap 10-18, and stands firm at the top ahead of Robert Kayitani and Kato Kimbugwe who completed the top three.

The opening at Falcon Golf course was a combination of PMC knockout league match play and a normal stroke play to get winners in different group categories.

In another exciting group C, Innocent Rutamu,  used his local knowledge to beat Francois Rugomboka, Geofrey Gaga and his brother Paul Ntaganda to amass six points, meanwhile, Gaga and his brother Ntaganda who is currently the Captain of Falcon Golf and Country club squared with Ntaganda by collecting three points each.

In other results, Jack Kayonga’s impressive performance saw him beat Andrew Kulayige, Arthur Asiimwe and Eugene Munyaneza while Charles Ntare beat Bill Kayonga, Keith Bunyenyezi and John Mirenge

Meanwhile, Dr Charles Gahima finished as the winner in seniors’ category, ahead of Aimable Mpore and Kayinamura who made it to the podium in second and third positions while Jenny Linda was the ladies’ net winner.

In men’s category 3 Handicap 19-28, Ivan Murenzi finished top ahead of first runner-up Derrick Rwitare while Steven Kinuka finished third.

Forthcoming matches await John Mirenge who takes on Robert Bafakurera while Gentil Kangaho will hope to bounce back against Marcel Byusa after his shock loss to Rugema Ngarambe.

With the league now ongoing with a month to go to the playoffs, sponsors pledged to give each winner a return ticket to Dubai and the runner-up a return ticket to Nairobi. They also pledged to give two tickets to local Rwanda pros to Kenya for the regional Golf Circuit Safari Tour.