EMMANUEL Ruterana hopes his sparkling score in Saturday’s November MTN Monthly mug will give him added momentum heading into this week’s Rwanda Open.

The 26-year-old shot a brilliant course-record round of nine-under-par 63 to leave his professional compatriots with plenty to think about ahead of the four-day show piece which tees off this Thursday at Kigali Golf Club.

"It certainly gives me momentum going into the Rwanda Open,” said Ruterana. "I’m feeling a lot better about my game than I was. Hopefully, it’s a springboard into this week and I’m looking forward to it.”

"I’ve been working hard and everything just clicked into place on Saturday. My ball striking was spot on and the putting was perfect,” he noted.

"I hit my irons well and got it up and down when I needed to. It was just a very, very solid round.”
Ruterana hit six birdies and two eagles.

After a rather quiet front nine (birdies on hole 7 and 9), the hard-hitting golfer exploded with four birdies and two eagles on the back nine to leap up on the leaderboard ahead of MTN sponsored Jean Baptist Hakizimana, who struggled to two-over par 74.

After losing the title to Hakizimana last year, Ruterana, who is playing in only his third season in the paid ranks, is bracing himself to reclaim it.

Ends