Mutesa surges into Rwanda Open lead

Overnight leader Celestin Habineza dropped to third place after day three of the RDB-Rwanda Open, but defending champion Jules Mutesa and Uganda’s Willy Kitaka moved into contention going into the final day.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Third round leaderboard:Group One*Willy Kitaka    224 (Uga)*Jules Mutesa    224*Afrodis Nyirinkwaya 226*Celestin Habineza     229Professionals*Emmanuel Ruterana -3*JB Hakizimana     -2*Ernest Ndayisenga     +3Group Two: First round *Bernabas Kariuki 73 Net*Arthur Barigye    74 *Anders Voigt    75 Group Three*Taylor Koonce    70 Net*Andrew Makaka     73*Eugene Rurengeka     73Ladies*Tom Abbidias     76 Net*Sandra     77 (Bur)*Gloria    77 (Uga)Overnight leader Celestin Habineza dropped to third place after day three of the RDB-Rwanda Open, but defending champion Jules Mutesa and Uganda’s Willy Kitaka moved into contention going into the final day.Having posted a 73 to lead the way on Thursday, Habineza played a 10-over-par on the third day to trail the leading pair by five shots.Both Kitaka and Mutesa posted a 76 on Friday to share the lead with a total score of 224, two shots ahead of Afrodis Nyirinkwaya, who carded a one-over-par to move into second place.In the professional category, Emmanuel Ruterana takes a one stroke lead over compatriot Jean Baptist Hakizimana going into the final day of the competition.Ruterana scored a two-over round of 74, while Hakizimana, who had moved into joint-lead on day two, carded 75 to drop one shot off the pace, he is -2 over all.Ernest Ndayisenga produced so far the best round of the tournament of 5-under-par to jump into third place with a +3 overall score.Meanwhile, yesterday’s afternoon heavy downpour forced play in groups two and three to be called off, meaning the first round will be completed today as the second round.