Kitaka, Habineza lead in Rwanda Golf Open

First round leaderboard:Amateurs1. Willy Kitaka 74 (Uga)2. Celestin Habineza 743. Jules Mutesa 754. Afrodis Nyirinkwaya 75Pros1. Emmanuel Ruterana 682. JB Hakizimana 713. Silver Opio 73 (Uga)UGANDA’S Willy Kitaka and Rwanda’s Celestin Habineza shot a first round 2-over-par 74 to tie for the lead in this year’s Rwanda Golf Open at the Par 72 Kigali Golf Club in Nyarutarama.Defending champion Jules Mutesa is one stroke behind after closing the day with 75 and tied in third place with his compatriot Afrodis Nyirinkwaya.The players go into Thursday’s second round with a congested field at the top end of the leaderboard, and so the next three days will provide golf fans some fascinating action in the race for the title.In the professional category, Emmanuel Ruterana is in lead after the first round following his flawless a four-under-par 68, three strokes clear of his local rival and close friend Jean Baptist Hakizimana, who finished the with 71. Uganda’s Silver Opio is in third place after closing day one with a 73.This year’s Rwanda Open has attracted a relatively less number of participants than the organisers had anticipated. Unlike in the previous editions, there are no competitors from Kenya and Tanzania, who always make the event a lot more competitive.

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Kitaka, Habineza lead in Rwanda Golf Open